CHAPTER X. DR JOHN.

MadameBeckwasamostconsistentcharacterforbearingwithalltheworld,andtendertonopartofit.Herownchildrendrewherintonodeviationfromtheeventenorofherstoiccalm.Shewassolicitousaboutherfamily,vigilantfortheirinterestsandphysicalwell-beingbutsheneverseemedtoknowthewishtotakeherlittlechildrenuponherlap,topresstheirrosylipswithherown,togathertheminagenialembrace,toshoweronthemsoftlythebenignantcaress,thelovingword. Ihavewatchedhersometimessittinginthegarden,viewingthelittlebeesafaroff,astheywalkedinadistantalleywithTrinette,theirbonneinhermienspokecareandprudence.Iknowsheoftenponderedanxiouslywhatshecalled“leuravenir”butiftheyoungest,apunyanddelicatebutengagingchild,chancingtospyher,brokefromitsnurse,andtoddlingdownthewalk,camealleagerandlaughingandpantingtoclaspherknee,Madamewouldjustcalmlyputoutonehand,soastopreventinconvenientconcussionfromthechild’ssuddenonset:“Prendsgarde,monenfant!”shewouldsayunmoved,patientlypermitittostandnearherafewmoments,andthen,withoutsmileorkiss,orendearingsyllable,riseandleaditbacktoTrinette. Herdemeanourtotheeldestgirlwasequallycharacteristicinanotherway.Thiswasaviciouschild.“QuellepestequecetteDésirée!Quelpoisonquecetenfantlà!”weretheexpressionsdedicatedtoher,alikeinkitchenandinschoolroom.Amongstherotherendowmentssheboastedanexquisiteskillintheart,ofprovocation,sometimesdrivingherbonneandtheservantsalmostwild.Shewouldstealtotheirattics,opentheirdrawersandboxes,wantonlyteartheirbestcapsandsoiltheirbestshawlsshewouldwatchheropportunitytogetatthebuffetofthesalle-à-manger,whereshewouldsmasharticlesofporcelainorglass—ortothecupboardofthestoreroom,whereshewouldplunderthepreserves,drinkthesweetwine,breakjarsandbottles,andsocontriveastothrowtheonusofsuspiciononthecookandthekitchen-maid.AllthiswhenMadamesaw,andofwhichwhenshereceivedreport,hersoleobservation,utteredwithmatchlessserenity,was: “Désiréeabesoind’unesurveillancetouteparticulière.”Accordinglyshekeptthispromisingolive-branchagooddealatherside.Neveronce,Ibelieve,didshetellherfaithfullyofherfaults,explaintheevilofsuchhabits,andshowtheresultswhichmustthenceensue.Surveillancemustworkthewholecure.Itfailedofcourse.Désiréewaskeptinsomemeasurefromtheservants,butsheteasedandpillagedhermammainstead.WhateverbelongingtoMadame’swork-tableortoiletshecouldlayherhandson,shestoleandhid.Madamesawallthis,butshestillpretendednottosee:shehadnotrectitudeofsoultoconfrontthechildwithhervices.Whenanarticledisappearedwhosevaluerenderedrestitutionnecessary,shewouldprofesstothinkthatDésiréehadtakenitawayinplay,andbeghertorestoreit.Désiréewasnottobesocheated:shehadlearnedtobringfalsehoodtotheaidoftheft,andwoulddenyhavin