Chapter 7 - Page 2

should appeal to your compassion, gentlemen of the jury, to your
hearts as fathers and as men; but we have law on our side, and it is the
point of law only which we shall submit to your judgment."

Pierre was looking at this home which might have been his, and he was
restive under his brother's frolics, thinking him really too silly and
witless.

Mme. Roland opened a door on the right.

"This is the bed-room," said she.

She had devoted herself to its decoration with all her mother's love.
The hangings were of Rouen cretonne imitating old Normandy chintz, and
the Louis XV. design--a shepherdess, in a medallion held in the beaks
of a pair of doves--gave the walls, curtains, bed, and arm-chairs a
festive, rustic style that was extremely pretty!

"Oh, how charming!" Mme. Rosemilly exclaimed, becoming a little serious
as they entered the room.

"Do you like it?" asked Jean.

"Immensely."

"You cannot imagine how glad I am."

They looked at each other for a second, with confiding tenderness in the
depths of their eyes.

She had felt a little awkward, however, a little abashed, in this room
which was to be hers. She noticed as she went in that the bed was a
large one, quite a family bed, chosen by Mme. Roland, who had no doubt
foreseen and hoped that her son should soon marry; and this motherly
foresight pleased her, for it seemed to tell her that she was expected
in the family.

When they had returned to the drawing-room Jean abruptly threw open the
door to the left, showing the circular dining-room with three windows,
and decorated to imitate a Chinese lantern. Mother and son had here
lavished all the fancy of which they were capable, and the room, with
its bamboo furniture, its mandarins, jars, silk hangings glistening
with gold, transparent blinds threaded with beads looking like drops
of water, fans nailed to the wall to drape the hangings on, screens,
swords, masks, cranes made of real feathers, and a myriad trifles
in china, wood, paper, ivory, mother-of-pearl, and bronze, had
the pretentious and extravagant aspect which unpractised hands and
uneducated eyes inevitably stamp on things which need the utmost tact,
taste, and artistic education. Nevertheless it was the most admired;
only Pierre made some observations with rather bitter irony which hurt
his brother's feelings.

Pyramids of fruit stood on the table and monuments of cakes. No one was
hungry; they picked at the fruit and nibbled at the cakes rather than
ate them. Then, at the end of about an hour, Mme. Rosemilly begged to
take leave. It was decided that old Roland should accompany her home and
set out with her forthwith; while