The Stepmother | Page 2

me that?
The General I only told you, in order that he might have his favorite
wines.
Felix (enters, announcing) Monsieur de Rimonville!
The General Ask him in.
Gertrude (making a sign to Felix to arrange the vase of flowers) I will
go to Pauline's room, while you are talking business. I should like to
superintend the arrangement of her toilet. Young people do not always
understand what is most becoming to them.
The General She has no expense spared her! During the last eighteen
months her dress has cost twice as much as it previously did; after all,

poor girl, it is the only amusement she has.
Gertrude How can you say it is her only amusement while she has the
privilege of living with us! If it were not my happy lot to be your wife,
I should like to be your daughter. I will never leave you, not I! Did you
say for the last eighteen months? That is singular! Well, when I come
to think of it, she has begun to care more about laces, jewels, and other
pretty things.
The General She is quite rich enough to indulge her tastes.
Gertrude And she is now of age. (Aside) Her fondness of dress is the
smoke. Can there be any fire? (Exit.)

SCENE SECOND
The General (alone) What a pearl among women! Thus I am made
happy after twenty-six campaigns, a dozen wounds, and the death of an
angel, whose place she has taken in my heart; truly a kind Providence
owed me some such recompense as this, if it were only to console me
for the death of the Emperor.

SCENE THIRD
Godard and the General.
Godard (entering) Well, General!
The General Ah! good day, Godard! I hope you are come to spend the
day with us?
Godard I thought perhaps I might spend the week, General, if you
should regard favorably the request which I shall venture to make of
you.
The General Go in and win! I know what request you mean--My wife is

on your side. Ah, Godard, you have attacked the fortress at its weak
point!
Godard General, you are an old soldier, and have no taste for mere
phrases. In all your undertakings you go straight ahead, as you did
when under fire.
The General Straight and facing the whole battery.
Godard That suits me well, for I am rather timid.
The General You! I owe you, my dear friend, an apology; I took you
for a man who was too well aware of his own worth.
Godard You took me to be conceited! But General, as a matter of fact, I
intend to marry because I don't know how to pay any court to women.
The General (aside) What a civilian! (Aloud) How is this? You talk like
an old man, and-- that is not the way to win my daughter.
Godard Do not misunderstand me. I have a warm heart; I wish only to
feel sure that I shall be accepted.
The General That means that you don't mind attacking unwalled towns.
Godard That is not it at all, General. You quite alarm me, with your
banter.
The General What do you mean then?
Godard I understand nothing about the tricks of women. I know no
more when their yes means no, than when their no means yes; and
when I am in love, I wish to be loved in return.
The General (aside) With such ideas as those he has precious little
chance.
Godard There are plenty of men like me, men who are supremely bored
by this little warfare of manners and whims.

The General But there is something also delightful in it,--I mean in the
feminine show of resistance, which gives one the pleasure of
overcoming it.
Godard Thank you, nothing of that sort for me! When I am hungry, I do
not wish to coquette with my soup. I like to have things decided, and
care very little how the decision is arrived at, although I do come from
Normandy. In the world, I see coxcombs who creep into the favor of
women by saying to them, "Ah! madame, what a pretty frock you have
on. Your taste is perfect. You are the only person who could wear that,"
and starting from such speeches as that they go on and on--and gain
their end. They are wonderful fellows, upon my honor! I don't see how
they reach success by such idle talk. I should beat about the bush
through all eternity before I could tell a pretty woman the effect she had
made on me.
The General The men of the Empire were not of that sort.
Godard It is on account of that, that I put on a bold face! This boldness
when backed