himself by her side, took her hand and even went so
far as to attempt passing his arm round her. But it was only an
attempt. With a quick movement, Eugénie drew her hand out of his and
retreated from him, casting a glance at him like that which, yesterday
in church, had so spoiled his father's first embrace. There was the
same cold haughty repulse in her look which said better than any words:
"I am not to be approached by you, or any like you."

But this high disdainful manner, so imposing to the father, proved less
so when employed towards the son, probably because the latter was no
longer to be awed by anything. He appeared neither intimidated nor
disconcerted at this evident show of , but merely looked up
with some faint .

"Is that disagreeable to you, Eugénie?"

"It is new to me at least. You have hitherto spared me such marks of
."

The young man was too apathetic to feel all the bitter meaning of these
words. He took them as a reproach.

"Hitherto? Well, yes, etiquette was rather severely maintained in your
father's house. During the whole two months of our engagement, I had
not once the  of seeing you alone. The continual presence of