Many fathers in this manner allow themselves to be deceived by their children with the same blindness and meekness as foolish husbands are deceived by their wives, till the day, when the bandage which covered their eyes, falls at length, and they discover to their amazement that the cherub which they had brought up with so much care and love, and whose long roll of good qualities, talents and virtues they loved to recount before strangers, is nothing but a little being saturated with vice and hide-bound in overweening vanity.

He embraced her with a father’s tender and affectionate look, and for some time gazed upon Suzanne’s clear eyes: 

—­No, he said to himself, there can be no vice in this young soul; is not this calm brow and these pure eyes the evidence of the purity of her soul?

And, taking one of her hands in his, he remained near her bed and said to her gently: 

—­It is a fact, I say again, my child, that I know young people sometimes, without thinking or intending any evil, commit imprudent acts, which are nothing at first, but which often have dangerous consequences.  Sometimes carelessly they fasten their eyes on a young man whom they meet at church, at a ball, during a walk, or no matter where ... well! that is enough for him to construe the look as an advance which is made to him, or at least as an encouragement, and to believe himself authorized then to undertake some enterprise.  Good Heavens, all seductions begin in the same way.  We men are for the most part very infatuated with ourselves.  I, my dearest child, can make that confession without any shame, for I have long since passed the age of self-conceit, although we still come across some old rascals who want to gobble up chickens, and forget that they have lost their teeth.  Men are very foolish, young men particularly, and willingly imagine that all the ladies are dying of love for their little persons.  A young woman passes by, and happens to look at them, as one looks at a dog or a pig; good, they say directly, “Stop, stop, that woman wants me.”  And immediately they try the knot of their tie, arrange their collar, and, assuming a triumphant air, begin to follow her and consider themselves authorized to address her impertinently.

—­Ah, ah, said Suzanne, I can see that now, father.  There were some young fellows who used to follow us always at school, with their moustaches well waxed and a fine parting in their hair behind.  Heavens, how they have amused us.

—­At other times, said Durand, a young girl is at her window.  A gentleman, passing by, all at once lifts his nose.  The young girl sees him, their eyes meet:  “Eh, eh,” says the gentleman, “there is a little thing who is rather nice; ’pon my word, she is not bad, not bad at all, and I believe that it would not be difficult ... the devil, it would be charming!  What a look she gave me! let us have a try.”  And the rogue commences to walk up and down under the windows, doing all he can to compromise the girl.