"You haven't kissed my children yet, my two little boys; they are charming little fellows, perfect demons! But bright! you may judge for yourself."

"Where are they?"

"They're in bed; it's nearly eight o'clock."

"We mustn't wake them."

"No; you shall see them to-morrow. It's more than a year since you came to see us--fifteen months at least! They have grown tremendously in that time! The older one is four now, and the younger three. You can tell us whom they look like."

Deneterre's appearance interrupted our conversation. My brother-in-law manifested great pleasure at my arrival; he embraced me with sincere cordiality, urged me to pa.s.s the winter with them at Melun, and I saw in his eyes that his heart agreed with his lips; I noticed simply that when he came in he had in his hands a billiard cue, which he stood in a corner. We talked business and the news of Paris for a moment. Deneterre was in good spirits; his cotton mill was prosperous, his business was in excellent shape, he hoped to be able to retire and live on his income in a few years.

While we were talking, Amelie went in and out, gave orders, had a room made ready for me, invited me to take something before supper.

"I never take supper," I said.

"You must do it here, my dear; it's one of the customs of the province, and it's not disagreeable, I a.s.sure you."

"All right; I'll take supper when I am hungry."

"Speaking of eating," said Deneterre, "where are the children? Why don't they come to kiss their uncle?"

"They're in bed, my dear," said Amelie.

"In bed, already! why, that's ridiculous! You put them to bed too early."

"Their health requires it."

"Boys don't need to sleep so much."

"Boys who run about and play all day must need rest when night comes."

"No matter; I want them to come to kiss their uncle."

"They can do it just as well to-morrow morning."

"To-morrow! to-morrow! that won't be the same thing at all. I'm going to get them."

"What! wake them up! upon my word! I would like to see you--just to make them sick."

"You're the one who makes them sick, making them sleep like dormice."

"At this rate, I shan't have anything to say about my own children."

"They are boys; it's my place to train them."

"You don't understand anything about it; besides, it isn't my fault that they're not girls."

As I saw that the discussion was becoming warm, I made haste to change the subject by taking the billiard cue and handing it to Deneterre.

"Is this cue yours?"

"Yes; it's a prize cue that I won at pool not long ago."

"Ah! so you play pool, do you?"

"Every night; I am a very good hand at it."

"Very well; go and finish your game. No ceremony between us, you know.

Besides, I am tired and am going to bed."

"Until to-morrow, then," said Deneterre, taking his prize cue eagerly; "you must join us to-morrow, and you will see what progress I've made since last year, especially since I have been using a patent cue."

Deneterre left us, and Amelie took me to my room, showing me on the way a large part of the house, and telling me in detail all that she had lately had done to it, and the further improvements that she had in view. I noticed in my sister's conversation something of the tone of the old gentleman with whom I had dined at Madame de Marsan's country house, and who dilated so complacently on the details of his barnyard and hencoop. But I began to understand that the story of the birth of a chicken and the education of a rabbit might be of great interest to people who had nothing else to do.

In the course of our conversation, I asked my sister if she often had disputes with her husband.

"Disputes!" she exclaimed, with a surprised look; "why, we never have any."

"I thought that just now----"

"Oh! you call that a dispute! why, my dear boy, that was nothing at all; we have a hundred little arguments like that during the day; but they're not disputes! You see, when two people live together, it's very hard to be always of the same opinion."

"I should think that it would be more agreeable."

"But it's impossible! Ah! my dear Eugene, anyone can see that you're a bachelor! you know nothing at all about married life; but before long I hope that you will know all the joys of marriage, of which you have no conception now."

"No; I agree that I have no conception of them."

"Patience, it will come in time. Good-night, dear Eugene; until to-morrow!"

My sister left me, and I went to bed reflecting on the manner of life of which Amelie and her husband had just given me a specimen; and yet it was a delightful household, so everybody said. This much was certain--that my sister was virtuous, and true to her husband, and that Deneterre was very fond of his wife and children. Why, then, those frequent disputes?--I saw that my sister was right: I had undertaken to argue about conjugal happiness, and I did not know what it was. I concluded that the best thing I could do was to go to sleep.

The journey had tired me, but the sight of my sister and her husband had diverted my thoughts from my grief, for all troubles yield at last to time and to distraction. I fell asleep in a more tranquil frame of mind than I had known for a long while; and I should doubtless have slept well into the forenoon, if my dear nephews had not taken it upon themselves to wake me. At seven o'clock I heard a great noise in my room; I felt somebody pulling my leg and my arm; I opened my eyes and saw my sister's two children, who had climbed on my bed and were amusing themselves by playing tricks and tumbling all over me. While I, still half asleep, gazed vacantly at them, I heard a roar of laughter behind me; I drew the curtain aside and discovered Deneterre seated a few feet from the bed and laughing at my surprise.

"Well!" he said; "here they are; what do you think of them?"

"Why, they are in excellent condition, so far as I can see."

"Aren't they fine boys?"

"Yes, indeed."

"Ah! I'll make hearty little chaps of them, I tell you! They're such merry, lively rascals!"

"So I see; just tell them not to pinch me so hard. Here's one of them who won't let go my calf."

"It's only play, my dear fellow. They wake me like this every morning.

Tell me, is there any greater pleasure?"