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in the drawing…rooms and billiard…room； a servant announced to the
inhabitants of the Villa Planat； 〃Monsieur DE Longueville。〃 On hearing
the name of the old admiral's protege； every one； down to the player
who was about to miss his stroke； rushed in； as much to study
Mademoiselle de Fontaine's countenance as to judge of this phoenix of
men； who had earned honorable mention to the detriment of so many
rivals。 A simple but elegant style of dress； an air of perfect ease；
polite manners； a pleasant voice with a ring in it which found a
response in the hearer's heart…strings； won the good…will of the
family for Monsieur Longueville。 He did not seem unaccustomed to the
luxury of the Receiver…General's ostentatious mansion。 Though his
conversation was that of a man of the world； it was easy to discern
that he had had a brilliant education； and that his knowledge was as
thorough as it was extensive。 He knew so well the right thing to say
in a discussion on naval architecture； trivial； it is true； started by
the old admiral； that one of the ladies remarked that he must have
passed through the Ecole Polytechnique。
〃And I think； madame；〃 he replied； 〃that I may regard it as an honor
to have got in。〃
In spite of urgent pressing； he refused politely but firmly to be kept
to dinner； and put an end to the persistency of the ladies by saying
that he was the Hippocrates of his young sister； whose delicate health
required great care。
〃Monsieur is perhaps a medical man？〃 asked one of Emilie's sisters…in…
law with ironical meaning。
〃Monsieur has left the Ecole Polytechnique；〃 Mademoiselle de Fontaine
kindly put in； her face had flushed with richer color； as she learned
that the young lady of the ball was Monsieur Longueville's sister。
〃But； my dear； he may be a doctor and yet have been to the Ecole
Polytechniqueis it not so； monsieur？〃
〃There is nothing to prevent it； madame；〃 replied the young man。
Every eye was on Emilie； who was gazing with uneasy curiosity at the
fascinating stranger。 She breathed more freely when he added； not
without a smile； 〃I have not the honor of belonging to the medical
profession； and I even gave up going into the Engineers in order to
preserve my independence。〃
〃And you did well；〃 said the Count。 〃But how can you regard it as an
honor to be a doctor？〃 added the Breton nobleman。 〃Ah； my young
friend； such a man as you〃
〃Monsieur le Comte； I respect every profession that has a useful
purpose。〃
〃Well； in that we agree。 You respect those professions； I imagine； as
a young man respects a dowager。〃
Monsieur Longueville made his visit neither too long nor too short。 He
left at the moment when he saw that he had pleased everybody； and that
each one's curiosity about him had been roused。
〃He is a cunning rascal！〃 said the Count； coming into the drawing…room
after seeing him to the door。
Mademoiselle de Fontaine； who had been in the secret of this call； had
dressed with some care to attract the young man's eye； but she had the
little disappointment of finding that he did not bestow on her so much
attention as she thought she deserved。 The family were a good deal
surprised at the silence into which she had retired。 Emilie generally
displayed all her arts for the benefit of newcomers； her witty
prattle； and the inexhaustible eloquence of her eyes and attitudes。
Whether it was that the young man's pleasing voice and attractive
manners had charmed her； that she was seriously in love； and that this
feeling had worked a change in her； her demeanor had lost all its
affectations。 Being simple and natural； she must； no doubt； have
seemed more beautiful。 Some of her sisters； and an old lady； a friend
of the family； saw in this behavior a refinement of art。 They supposed
that Emilie； judging the man worthy of her； intended to delay
revealing her merits； so as to dazzle him suddenly when she found that
she pleased him。 Every member of the family was curious to know what
this capricious creature thought of the stranger； but when； during
dinner； every one chose to endow Monsieur Longueville with some fresh
quality which no one else had discovered； Mademoiselle de Fontaine sat
for some time in silence。 A sarcastic remark of her uncle's suddenly
roused her from her apathy； she said； somewhat epigrammatically； that
such heavenly perfection must cover some great defect； and that she
would take good care how she judged so gifted a man at first sight。
〃Those who please everybody； please nobody；〃 she added； 〃and the worst
of all faults is to have none。〃
Like all girls who are in love； Emilie cherished the hope of being
able to hide her feelings at the bottom of her heart by putting the
Argus…eyes that watched on the wrong tack； but by the end of a
fortnight there was not a member of the large family party who was not
in this little domestic secret。 When Monsieur Longueville called for
the third time； Emilie believed it was chiefly for her sake。 This
discovery gave her such intoxicating pleasure that she was startled as
she reflected on it。 There was something in it very painful to her
pride。 Accustomed as she was to be the centre of her world； she was
obliged to recognize a force that attracted her outside herself； she
tried to resist； but she could not chase from her heart the
fascinating image of the young man。
Then came some anxiety。 Two of Monsieur Longueville's qualities； very
adverse to general curiosity； and especially to Mademoiselle de
Fontaine's； were unexpected modesty and discretion。 He never spoke of
himself； of his pursuits； or of his family。 The hints Emilie threw out
in conversation； and the traps she laid to extract from the young
fellow some facts concerning himself； he could evade with the
adroitness of a diplomatist concealing a secret。 If she talked of
painting； he responded as a connoisseur； if she sat down to play； he
showed without conceit that he was a very good pianist； one evening he
delighted all the party by joining his delightful voice to Emilie's in
one of Cimarosa's charming duets。 But when they tried to find out
whether he were a professional singer； he baffled them so pleasantly
that he did not afford these women； practised as they were in the art
of reading feelings； the least chance of discovering to what social
sphere he belonged。 However boldly the old uncle cast the boarding…
hooks over the vessel； Longueville slipped away cleverly； so as to
preserve the charm of mystery； and it was easy to him to remain the
〃handsome Stranger〃 at the Villa； because curiosity never overstepped
the bounds of good breeding。
Emilie； distracted by this reserve； hoped to get more out of the
sister than the brother； in the form of confidences。 Aided by her
uncle； who was as skilful in such manoeuvres as in handling a ship；
she endeavored to bring upon the scene the hitherto unseen figure of
Mademoiselle Clara Longueville。 The family party at the Villa Planat
soon expressed the greatest desire to make the acquaintance of so
amiable a young lady； and to give her some amusement。 An informal
dance was proposed and accepted。 The ladies did not despair of making
a young girl of sixteen talk。
Notwithstanding the little clouds piled up by suspicion and created by
curiosity； a light of joy shone in Emilie's soul； for she found life
delicious when thus intimately connected with another than herself。
She began to understand the relations of life。 Whether it is that
happiness makes us better； or that she was too fully occupied to
torment other people； she became less caustic； more gentle； and
indulgent。 This change in her temper enchanted and amazed her family。
Perhaps； at last； her selfishness was being transformed to love。 It
was a deep delight to her to look for the arrival of her bashful and
unconfessed adorer。 Though they had not uttered a word of passion； she
knew that she was loved； and with what art did she