When Modeste went too far,
she turned round and openly took herself to task, ascribing her
impertinence and levity to a spirit of independence. She acknowledged
to the duke and Canalis her distaste for obedience, and professed to
regard it as an obstacle to her marriage; thus investigating the
nature of her suitors, after the manner of those who dig into the
earth in search of metals, coal, tufa, or water.
"I shall never," she said, the evening before the day on which the
family were to move into the villa, "find a husband who will put up
with my caprices as my father does; his kindness never flags. I am
sure no one will ever be as indulgent to me as my precious mother."
"They know that you love them, mademoiselle," said La Briere.
"You may be very sure, mademoiselle, that your husband will know the
full value of his treasure," added the duke.
"You have spirit and resolution enough to discipline a husband," cried
Canalis, laughing.
Modeste smiled as Henri IV. must have smiled after drawing out the
characters of his three principal ministers, for the benefit of a
foreign ambassador, by means of three answers to an insidious
question.
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