"You, dear," asked Esperance, "will you renounce the theatre if
Maurice tells you that he wishes it?"
"I shall not even wait for him to tell me.... If Maurice wishes me to
be his companion through life, I will sacrifice everything for him,
with only one regret, that I have not enough to give up for him!"
"Oh!" said Esperance, miserably, "you are in love, but I am not."
And the unhappy child, stifling her sobs, hid her head in the pillow.
Two days later, the Countess, her son and the Baron left for Brussels.
Madame Styvens had questioned Esperance very adroitly, and she left
Penhouet with a pretty good idea of her tastes and preferences.
It was then the end of August, and the banns were to be published for
November. The Baron was to arrange for the marriage in Brussels, but
it was agreed that the young couple should live in Paris, and the
Countess proposed to pick out a pretty house to shelter the happiness
of her son. She herself would live in Paris; but she refused to share
their home.
"I shall look for a house or an apartment near by."
The adieux were tender on both sides. Esperance was so sensitive to
the charm of her mother-in-law that it made her seem devoted to her
fiancee....
CHAPTER XXI
The news of the engagement of Esperance and the Count Styvens was
known all over Paris. Letters came to the farm of Penhouet, done up in
packets. Many expressed to the philosopher and his wife their joy at
hearing that their daughter had decided to leave a career so .
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