comedy test to study a scene from _Les Femmes Savantes_ (the
role of "_Henriette_"), and in tragedy a scene from _Iphygenia_.
Adhemar Meydieux often came to inquire about his goddaughter's
studies. He wished to hear her recite, to give her advice; but
Esperance refused energetically, still remembering his former
opposition against him. She would let no one hear her recitations, but
her mother. Madame Darbois put all her heart into her efforts to help
her daughter. Every morning she went through her work with Esperance.
To her the role of "_Henriette_" was inexplicable. She consulted
her husband, who replied, "'_Henriette_' is a little philosopheress
with plenty of sense. Esperance is right to have chosen this scene
from _Les Femmes Savantes_. Moliere's genius has never exhibited
finer raillery than in this play." And he enlarged upon the psychology
of "_Henriette's_" character until Madame Darbois realized with surprise
that her daughter was completely in accord with the ideas laid down
by her father as to the interpretation of this role. Esperance was
so young it seemed impossible that she could yet understand all the
double subtleties....

Esperance had taken her first communion when she was eleven, and after
her religious studies ended, she had thought of nothing but poetry,
and had even tried to compose some verses. Her father had encouraged
her, and procured her a professor of literature. From that time the
child had given herself completely to the art of the drama, learning
by heart and reciting aloud the most beautiful parts of French
literature. Her parents, listening with pleasure to her recitations of
Ronsard or Victor Hugo, little guessing that the child was already
dreaming of the theatre. Often since then, Madame Darbois had
reproached herself for having foreseen so little, but her husband,
whose wisdom recognized the uselessness of vain regrets, would calm