Did Madame
ever hear the like of it?' concluded Jeanne, throwing up her hands
to heaven. 'I am sorry to say, Jeanne, that I have,' replied my
sweet Madame with a sigh, and led the conversation by slow degrees
back to the subject of dinner. I turned to her when Jeanne had left
the room. I can remember still the burning indignation of my face.
I had often spoken to the man myself, and had thought what a
delightful husband he was--so kind, so attentive, so proud,
seemingly, of his dainty femme. 'Doesn't that prove what I say,' I
cried, 'that men are beasts?' 'I am afraid it helps in that
direction,' replied my old friend. 'And yet you defend them,' I
answered. 'At my age, my dear,' she replied, 'one neither defends
nor blames; one tries to understand.' She put her thin white hand
upon my head. 'Shall we hear a little more of the story?' she said.
'It is not a pleasant one, but it may be useful to us.' 'I don't
want to hear any more of it,' I answered; 'I have heard enough.'
'It is sometimes well,' she persisted, 'to hear the whole of a case
before forming our judgment.' And she rang the bell for Jeanne.
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