, 1862-01-23

mics and restore him to the esteem and conf
dence Of the government He would hardly re-
ply to what she said, listened with contemptucus
abstraction, and could not conceive howsh could
50 far forget herself ss to offer him her advice,
or point out TO him plan Of conduct Helen
then was silent Always guided and strength
ened by her mother, she never anticipated her
husband In the least thing, and followed peFse-
veringly the path she had marked out for her.
One event appeared to throw an obstacle in the
way Of It Col ST. Charles, uncle Of Dapremont;
and proprietor Of fine residence near the village
Of ST Prik, died. Dapremont finding himself
in disgrace, eagerly seized this occasion for quit
z Now Is the moment" !" said Madame Dc Mer-
val to her daughter, for putting the last stroke
and eiecting Cor ever the CONVERSION 50 necessary
70 your happiness. Your husband already sur
prised at not receiving from you the attentions
to which YOU have accustomed him, attributes to
me the change, and anticipates bringing you
back 10 your old habits as soon as you are sspar-
ated from me. Hence be has not proposed 70
me to accompany you, You must profit by It
to bring hin BY degrees to feel the extent Of
| your condescension, Of your sacrifices; no longer
70 despise IN you what ought TO be the charm Of
bis existence, or tounderrate yourtalents, which
you hide sometimes with too much modesty.
Remember you have In your own power the hap.
Piness or unhappiness Of your whole liie, and
consequently Of mine. II you are an instant
soflened, my daughter, armed BY your weak
ness, your husband will become too oyerbeaEinG
IL yon resist IL You preserve that strength which
belongs to you, be will give up, and be viii then
become the more dear 70 you as you have had
pain in isOfening him.. s,,f siii.efloa sea
:, Helen promised her mother to execute punctu |
ally what she had pointed out 70 her, whatever
Il might cost her loving and timid heart. She
then set of for ST. Prix with Dapremcnt who
was delighted to carry away bis submissive wife
alone, and take her from under the wptchlul eye
and counsels Of Madame de MeryaL he soon
resumed bis rudeness and unreascnableness.
Helen was IN some degree obliged 70 perform
some Of the offices Of Uaisi De chdmbr5 for him
But she no longer anticipated bis wishes or ca
prices. She did only what ne asked, only What
he ordered; but that was . great deal. How
ever this slight resistance did not suffice. She
must have the courage 10 refuse him whenever
he required anything too unreasonable, OF too
humiliating to her whose title be ought to 70
spect, and whose goodness he ought 70 admire.
Helen was tempted hundred times To- execute
this bold PLAN She only waited for an occasion
in which, without wonnding her husband 100
deeply, she could make him feel bis ridiculous dea-
potisn. Accident favored her wisheS Dapre'
mont was passionately fond Of hunting fhe
neiehborng forest Of Montmorency enabled him
to crafty tastes which contribute so much %
health So as soon as the great hunt began be
went ont in the morning and did not return IN
ii night when be was tired, harassed, and 100
olten In detestable humof. One day he went
through the forests as far as Ohanvfy, 10 the
rain, without meeting with any game be came
back fatigued, mudded up to bis knees and chilled
TO the bone Helen instantly made him change
bis clothes, and lavished on him al those cares
which health 30 dear to her would demand
After a little while Dapremont threw himself on
sofa, extended bis leg, all covered with mud,
and said roughly 70 bis wife, Take oil my gai-
tiers. She pretended At lirst not to hear him,
but gathering al her strength and reanimating
her courage, she determined, though not without
heArtlailing. at last to give her incorrigbe bus
band the lesson which he deserved Well
resumed be, more rudely still, you not hear
| nop take of my gaiteFs" ee
Helen looked at him from head TO foot, rang
the bell and snid 70 the servant who entered,
Take off your masters gaiters" Dapremont
eolored and appeared utterly astonlshrd. This
was the first time bis vile bad ever dared resist
Thin and though she was alone, separated from
her mother. her tone. her attitude, her accent,
All announced 4 firm and decided resolution.
Whilst the servant was hnbulloning bis eailefss
he fixed on Helen severe look which she was
not ableito eadure. and afraid of destroying The
effect Of her courageous effort she went ont and
descended 70 the drawing room. DapEemont
I did not appear there during the whole evening
lie sent inform her that, overcome with iatgnes
he had retired Helen sent several times 70 IN
quire what he wanted; but under pretext Of not
disturbing him, she denied herself the pleasure q
going into his apartment He spent nearly All the
SiChs rejecting on me strange change which had
come over bis wiles She on her part did not
cease thinking Of what she had done She
dreaded irritating her husband, wounllng hs
| pride, or Drawing bis authority. ) % sent a.
| fectly the next morning to ask after him. iie
Feplied he htd spent most restless night, and
complained Of q bad sore throat Helen went
Instantly to him and gave him every care inc
most attentive wife could give. The sweet ~
tentions which she lavished on him at tbs mo-
mcnt, as much from habit as IRON aieetlen,
charmed the Baron and made him believe the
poor slave bad resumed her chains She ielt
again that ovsrbearing acorn, thatrndepcsa which
he had made her endure 50 often, which she had
increased by that kind Of selfdenial which BAD
| made him believe that there existed between hls
wife and himself adislance which she had ntiiner
the right nor the power 10 pass. Amer having
wol q out the patience Of Helen, ho rose, made
bis toilette and presented, as usual. one Of hs
fevt to his wife for her 10 tie bis shoe. ne
would have been glad 10 see hes kneel again a
his feet to expiate in some manner her andaehy
i Of the day before. But what was bis surprise
| 70 Sec her cast most dgniied look on him, and
ringing ior the servant 70 whom she said As she
went out, sFasten your masters shoes and
herrallef always doit." So marked repetition
Of her offence no longer allowed Dapremont 70
doubt that his wife had serious intentions Of free.
I ing herself from the servitude in which he bad
I so long retained her. Then comparing this dlg.
nilled refusal with the tender care which sne nad
eaeerlv paid in he morning 10 soOthe his suffer
ings. lie could but acknowledge that however
ready 10 fulfil the duties Of an amiable and 40
voted wife, she wished at the same time to pre-
serve her own dignity. These thsashe, threw .sns.