what was going on, and there would be a 'few words.' At other times
he would consult her, and carry his purpose only after much
perseverance. Twice or thrice he had told her that he must go away,
and then with many groans she had acceded to his propositions. It
had been necessary to expend two thousand francs in establishing the
omnibus, and in that affair the appearance of things had been at one
time quite hopeless. And then when George had declared that the
altered habits of the people required that the hour of the morning
table-d'hote should be changed from noon to one, she had sworn that
she would not give way. She would never lend her assent to such
vile idleness. It was already robbing the business portion of the
day of an hour. She would wrap her colours round her and die upon
the ground sooner than yield. 'Then they won't come,' said George,
'and it's no use you having the table then. They will all go to the
Hotel de l'Imperatrice.' This was a new house, the very mention of
which was a dagger-thrust into the bosom of Madame Faragon. 'Then
they will be poisoned,' she said. 'And let them! It is what they
are fit for.' But the change was made, and for the first three days
she would not come out of her room. When the bell was rung at the
obnoxious hour, she stopped her ears with her two hands.

But though there had been these contests, Madame Faragon had made
more than one effort to induce George Voss to become her partner and
successor in the house. If he would only bring in a small sum of
money--a sum which must be easily within his father's reach--he
should have half the business now, and all of it when Madame Faragon
had gone to her rest. Or if he would prefer to give Madame Faragon
a pension--a moderate pension--she would give up the house at once.
At these tender moments she used to say that he probably would not
begrudge her a room in which to die. But George Voss would always