It would be as
ridiculous to seek a quarrel with Mercanson, as to leave the country on
account of gossip. No, we must not leave the country; that would be a bad
move; that would be to say to all the world that there is truth in its
idle rumors, and to give excuse to the gossips. We must neither go away
nor take any notice of such things."
I returned to Brigitte. A half hour had passed, and I had changed my mind
three times. I dissuaded her from her plans, I told her what I had just
done and why I had not carried out my first impulse. She listened
resignedly, yet she wished to go away; the house where her aunt had died
had become odious to her, much effort and persuasion on my part were
required to get her to consent to remain; finally, I accomplished it. We
repeated that we would despise the world, that we would yield nothing,
that we would not change our manner of life. I swore that my love should
console her for all her sorrows, and she pretended to hope for the best.
I told her that this circumstance had so enlightened me in the matter of
the wrongs I had done her, that my conduct would prove my repentance,
that I would drive from me, as a fantom, all the evil that remained in my
heart, that henceforth she would not be offended, by either my pride or
my caprices; and thus, sad and patient, her arms around my neck, she
yielded obedience to the pure caprice that I, myself, mistook for a flash
of reason.
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