Whilt he was speaking, Michael’s voice became hoarse, his eye fierce, and his lips quivered.  I wished to answer him, but I could only think of commonplace consolations, and I remained silent.  The joiner pretended he wanted a tool, and left me.

Poor father!  Ah!  I know those moments of temptation when virtue has failed to reward us, and we regret having obeyed her!  Who has not felt this weakness in hours of trial, and who has not uttered, at least once, the mournful exclamation of “Brutus?”

But if virtue is only a word, what is there then in life which is true and real?  No, I will not believe that goodness is in vain!  It does not always give the happiness we had hoped for, but it brings some other.  In the world everything is ruled by order, and has its proper and necessary consequences, and virtue cannot be the sole exception to the general law.  If it had been prejudicial to those who practise it, experience would have avenged them; but experience has, on the contrary, (sic) mader it more universal and more holy.  We only accuse it of being a faithless debtor, because we demand an immediate payment, and one apparent to our senses.  We always consider life as a fairy tale, in which every good action must be rewarded by a visible wonder.  We do not accept as payment a peaceful conscience, self-content, or a good name among men, treasures that are more precious than any other, but the value of which we do not feel till after we have lost them!

Michael is come back, and returned to his work.  His son had not yet arrived.

By telling me of his hopes and his grievous disappointments, he became excited; he unceasingly went over again the same subject, always adding something to his griefs.  He has just wound up his confidential discourse by speaking to me of a joiner’s business, which he had hoped to buy, and work to good account with Robert’s help.  The present owner had made a fortune by it, and after thirty years of business, he was thinking of retiring to one of the ornamental cottages in the outskirts of the city, a usual retreat for the frugal and successful working man.  Michael had not indeed the two thousand francs which must be paid down; but perhaps he could have persuaded Master Benoit to wait.  Robert’s presence would have been a security for him; for the young man could not fail to insure the prosperity of a workshop; besides science and skill, he had the power of invention and bringing to perfection.  His father had discovered among his drawings a new plan for a staircase, which had occupied his thoughts for a long time; and he even suspected him of having engaged himself to the Versailles contractor for the very purpose of executing it.  The youth was tormented by this spirit of invention, which took possession of all his thoughts, and, while devoting his mind to study, he had no time to listen to his feelings.

Michael told me all this with a mixed feeling of pride and vexation.  I saw he was proud of the son he was abusing, and that his very pride made him more sensible of that son’s neglect.