Then he thought he would consult Limousin, but the recollection of the hatred that existed between his friend and the servant made him fear lest the former should advise him to turn her away, and again he was lost in doubts and unhappy uncertainty.  Just then the clock struck seven, and he started up.  Seven o’clock, and he had not even changed his clothes yet!  Then nervous and breathless, he undressed, put on a clean shirt, and hastily finished his toilet, as if he had been expected in the next room for some event of extreme importance, went into the drawing-room, happy at having nothing to fear.  He glanced at the newspaper, went and looked out of the window, and then sat down on the sofa again, when the door opened, and the boy came in, washed, brushed and smiling, and Parent took him up in his arms and kissed him passionately; then he tossed him into the air, and held him up to the ceiling, but soon sat down again, as he was tired with all his efforts, and taking George onto his knee, he made him ride a cock-horse, and the child laughed and clapped his hands, and shouted with pleasure, as his father did also, for he laughed until his big stomach shook, for it amused him almost more than it did the child.

He loved him with all the heart of a weak, resigned, ill-used man.  He loved with mad bursts of affection, with caresses and with all the bashful tenderness which was hidden in him, and which had never found an outlet, even at the early period of his married life, for his wife had always shown herself cold and reserved.  Just then, however, Julie came to the door, with a pale face and glistening eyes, and she said in a voice which trembled with exasperation:  “It is half past seven, Monsieur.”  Parent gave an uneasy and resigned look at the clock and replied:  “Yes, it certainly is half past seven.”  “Well, my dinner is quite ready, now.”

Seeing the storm which was coming, he tried to turn it aside.  “But did you not tell me when I came in that it would not be ready before eight?” “Eight! what are you thinking about?  You surely do not mean to let the child dine at eight o’clock?  It would ruin his stomach.  Just suppose that he only had his mother to look after him!  She cares a great deal about her child.  Oh! yes, we will speak about her; she is a mother.  What a pity it is that there should be any mothers like her!”

Parent thought it was time to cut short a threatened scene, and so he said:  “Julie, I will not allow you to speak like that of your mistress.  You understand me, do you not?  Do not forget it for the future.”

The old servant, who was nearly choked with surprise, turned round and went out, slamming the door so violently after her, that the lusters on the chandelier rattled, and for some seconds it sounded as if a number of little invisible bells were ringing in the drawing room.

George who was surprised at first, began to clap his hands merrily, and blowing out his cheeks, he gave a great boum with all the strength of his lungs, to imitate the noise of the door banging.  Then his father began to tell him stories, but his mind was so preoccupied that he every moment lost the thread of his story, and the child, who could not understand him, opened his eyes wide, in astonishment.