'"
Uncle Renaud was openly nodding encouragement. Adhemar Meydieux rose
heavily, and straightening up with a succession of jerky movements,
caught himself squarely on his heels, and then, with great conviction,
said: "See here, child, if I were your father, I should take you by
the ear and put you out of the room."
Esperance turned purple.
"I repeat, children should obey without question!"
"I hope to prove to my daughter by reasoning that she is probably
wrong," said M. Darbois very quietly.
"Not at all. You must order, not persuade."
"Now, M. Meydieux," exclaimed the young painter, "it seems to me that
you are going a little too far. Children should respect their parents'
wishes as far as possible; but when it is a question of their own
future, they have a right to present their side of the case. If my
uncle Darbois's father had had his way, my uncle Darbois would
probably now be a mediocre engineer, instead of the brilliant
philosopher who is admired and recognized by the entire world."
Gentle little Madame Darbois sat up proudly, and Esperance looked at
her father with a world of tenderness in her eyes.
"But, my lad," pursued Adhemar, swelling with conviction, "your uncle
might well have made a fortune at machinery, while, as it is, he has
just managed to exist."
"We are very happy"--Madame Darbois slipped in her word.
Esperance had bounded out of her chair, and from behind her father
encircled his head with her arms.
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