Page:The Novels and Tales of Henry James, Volume 2 (New York, Charles Scribner's Sons, 1907).djvu/310

THE AMERICAN use: "I beg you to count on me for everything." Then his wife led him away.

Valentin, on this, stood looking from his sister to his friend. "I hope you 've both reflected very seriously."

Madame de Cintré smiled. "We've neither your powers of reflexion nor your depth of seriousness, but we've done our best."

"Well, I've a great regard for each of you," the young man continued. "You're charming, innocent, beautiful creatures. But I'm not satisfied, on the whole, that you belong to that small and superior class—that exquisite group—composed of persons who are worthy to remain unmarried. These are rare souls, they're the salt of the earth. But I don't mean to be invidious; the marrying people are often very gentils."

Valentin holds that women should marry and that men shouldn't," said Madame de Cintré. "I don't know how he arranges it."

"I arrange it by adoring you, my sister," he ardently answered.

"You had better adore some one you can marry, by my example," Newman laughed. "I 'll arrange that for you some day. I foresee I'm going to turn apostle."

Valentin was on the threshold; he looked back a moment with a face that had grown grave. "I adore some one I can't marry!" And he dropped the portière and departed.

"They don't really like it, you know," Newman said as he stood there before his mistress. 280