Page:The Story of Manon Lescaut and of the Chevalier des Grieux.pdf/257

Rh of importance, and waited to hear what I had to say, while I was anxiously pondering over the best way to begin. At last I broke the silence.

"You are a good father, sir," I said, trembling as I spoke. "You have lavished the greatest kindness upon me, and have forgiven me faults beyond number. And, for my own part, I can say before Heaven that no son ever felt more affection or more respect for a parent than I entertain for you. Yet it seems to me—I must own, in fact—that—that—your severity—is"

"Well, sir, and what of my severity?" interrupted my father, evidently impatient that I should come to the point.

"Ah, sir!" I went on, "it seems to me, I confess, that you have been too severe in your treatment of my unhappy Manon. You have taken your ideas of her from M. de G M. His malice has led him to paint her to you in the darkest of colors, and you have formed the most odious conception of her character. Yet never was there a sweeter, a more lovable being! Oh, why did it never please Heaven to inspire you with a wish to see her—if only for one moment? Sure as I am that she is