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hundred thousand francs a year gave her the right to be as impertinent
as her sister…in…law Emilie； whom she would sometimes wish to see
happily married； as she announced that the daughter of some peer of
France had married Monsieur So…and…So with no title to his name。 The
Vicomtesse de Fontaine amused herself by eclipsing Emilie in the taste
and magnificence that were conspicuous in her dress； her furniture；
and her carriages。 The satirical spirit in which her brothers and
sisters sometimes received the claims avowed by Mademoiselle de
Fontaine roused her to wrath that a perfect hailstorm of sharp sayings
could hardly mitigate。 So when the head of the family felt a slight
chill in the King's tacit and precarious friendship； he trembled all
the more because； as a result of her sisters' defiant mockery； his
favorite daughter had never looked so high。
In the midst of these circumstances； and at a moment when this petty
domestic warfare had become serious； the monarch； whose favor Monsieur
de Fontaine still hoped to regain； was attacked by the malady of which
he was to die。 The great political chief； who knew so well how to
steer his bark in the midst of tempests； soon succumbed。 Certain then
of favors to come； the Comte de Fontaine made every effort to collect
the elite of marrying men about his youngest daughter。 Those who may
have tried to solve the difficult problem of settling a haughty and
capricious girl； will understand the trouble taken by the unlucky
father。 Such an affair； carried out to the liking of his beloved
child； would worthily crown the career the Count had followed for
these ten years at Paris。 From the way in which his family claimed
salaries under every department； it might be compared with the House
of Austria； which； by intermarriage； threatens to pervade Europe。 The
old Vendeen was not to be discouraged in bringing forward suitors； so
much had he his daughter's happiness at heart； but nothing could be
more absurd than the way in which the impertinent young thing
pronounced her verdicts and judged the merits of her adorers。 It might
have been supposed that； like a princess in the Arabian Nights； Emilie
was rich enough and beautiful enough to choose from among all the
princes in the world。 Her objections were each more preposterous than
the last： one had too thick knees and was bow…legged； another was
short…sighted； this one's name was Durand； that one limped； and almost
all were too fat。 Livelier； more attractive； and gayer than ever after
dismissing two or three suitors； she rushed into the festivities of
the winter season； and to balls； where her keen eyes criticised the
celebrities of the day； delighted in encouraging proposals which she
invariably rejected。
Nature had bestowed on her all the advantages needed for playing the
part of Celimene。 Tall and slight； Emilie de Fontaine could assume a
dignified or a frolicsome mien at her will。 Her neck was rather long；
allowing her to affect beautiful attitudes of scorn and impertinence。
She had cultivated a large variety of those turns of the head and
feminine gestures； which emphasize so cruelly or so happily a hint of
a smile。 Fine black hair； thick and strongly…arched eyebrows； lent her
countenance an expression of pride； to which her coquettish instincts
and her mirror had taught her to add terror by a stare； or gentleness
by the softness of her gaze； by the set of the gracious curve of her
lips； by the coldness or the sweetness of her smile。 When Emilie meant
to conquer a heart； her pure voice did not lack melody； but she could
also give it a sort of curt clearness when she was minded to paralyze
a partner's indiscreet tongue。 Her colorless face and alabaster brow
were like the limpid surface of a lake； which by turns is rippled by
the impulse of a breeze and recovers its glad serenity when the air is
still。 More than one young man； a victim to her scorn； accused her of
acting a part； but she justified herself by inspiring her detractors
with the desire to please her； and then subjecting them to all her
most contemptuous caprice。 Among the young girls of fashion； not one
knew better than she how to assume an air of reserve when a man of
talent was introduced to her； or how to display the insulting
politeness which treats an equal as an inferior； and to pour out her
impertinence on all who tried to hold their heads on a level with
hers。 Wherever she went she seemed to be accepting homage rather than
compliments； and even in a princess her airs and manner would have
transformed the chair on which she sat into an imperial throne。
Monsieur de Fontaine discovered too late how utterly the education of
the daughter he loved had been ruined by the tender devotion of the
whole family。 The admiration which the world is at first ready to
bestow on a young girl； but for which； sooner or later； it takes its
revenge； had added to Emilie's pride； and increased her self…
confidence。 Universal subservience had developed in her the
selfishness natural to spoilt children； who； like kings； make a
plaything of everything that comes to hand。 As yet the graces of youth
and the charms of talent hid these faults from every eye； faults all
the more odious in a woman； since she can only please by self…
sacrifice and unselfishness； but nothing escapes the eye of a good
father； and Monsieur de Fontaine often tried to explain to his
daughter the more important pages of the mysterious book of life。 Vain
effort！ He had to lament his daughter's capricious indocility and
ironical shrewdness too often to persevere in a task so difficult as
that of correcting an ill…disposed nature。 He contented himself with
giving her from time to time some gentle and kind advice； but he had
the sorrow of seeing his tenderest words slide from his daughter's
heart as if it were of marble。 A father's eyes are slow to be
unsealed； and it needed more than one experience before the old
Royalist perceived that his daughter's rare caresses were bestowed on
him with an air of condescension。 She was like young children； who
seem to say to their mother； 〃Make haste to kiss me； that I may go to
play。〃 In short； Emilie vouchsafed to be fond of her parents。 But
often； by those sudden whims； which seem inexplicable in young girls；
she kept aloof and scarcely ever appeared； she complained of having to
share her father's and mother's heart with too many people； she was
jealous of every one； even of her brothers and sisters。 Then； after
creating a desert about her； the strange girl accused all nature of
her unreal solitude and her wilful griefs。 Strong in the experience of
her twenty years； she blamed fate； because； not knowing that the
mainspring of happiness is in ourselves； she demanded it of the
circumstances of life。 She would have fled to the ends of the earth to
escape a marriage such as those of her two sisters； and nevertheless
her heart was full of horrible jealousy at seeing them married； rich；
and happy。 In short； she sometimes led her motherwho was as much a
victim to her vagaries as Monsieur de Fontaineto suspect that she
had a touch of madness。
But such aberrations are quite inexplicable； nothing is commoner than
this unconfessed pride developed in the heart of young girls belonging
to families high in the social scale； and gifted by nature with great
beauty。 They are almost all convinced that their mothers； now forty or
fifty years of age； can neither sympathize with their young souls； nor
conceive of their imaginings。 They fancy that most mothers； jealous of
their girls； want to dress them in their own way with the premeditated
purpose of eclipsing them or robbing them of admiration。 Hence； often；
secret tears and dumb revolt against supposed tyranny。 In the midst of
these woes； which become very real though built on an imaginary basis；
they have also a mania for composing a scheme of life； while casting
for themselves a brilliant horoscope； their mag