Scene Seventh
The General and Pauline.
The General (aside) Act as my daughter’s confessor! I am utterly unfitted for such a task! She might rather act as confessor to me. (Aloud) Pauline, come here. (He takes her on his knee) Now, do you really think, my pet, that an old trooper like me doesn’t understand your resolution to remain single? Why, of course, that means, in every language in which it has ever been uttered, that a young person is in a special hurry to be married—to some one that she is in love with.
Pauline Papa, I would like to tell you something, but I cannot have confidence in you.
The General
And why not, mademoiselle?
Pauline
Because you tell everything to your wife.
The General And you mean to tell me that you have a secret of such a kind that it cannot be revealed to an angel, to the woman who has educated you—to your second mother!
Pauline Oh! If you are going to be vexed, I shall get off to bed. I used to think that a father’s heart would be a place of unfailing refuge for a daughter.
The General
You silly child! Come, I am going to be in a good humor.
Pauline How kind you are! But listen! Suppose I were in love with the son of one of those whom you detest?
The General (rising abruptly to his feet and repulsing her) I should detest you!
Pauline
And this is what you call being good humored?
(Gertrude appears.)
The General My child, there are feelings in my heart that you should never rouse in me; you ought to know this. They are my very life. Do you wish to be the death of your father?
Pauline
Oh!
The General Dear child! I have had my day. My lot, with you and Gertrude at my side, is an enviable one. But, however sweet and charming is my life, I would quit it without regret, if by that means I could render you happy; for happiness is a debt we owe to those who owe to us their existence.
Pauline (noticing the door ajar, aside) Ah! she is listening. (Aloud) Father, I didn’t mean what I said, but suppose I felt a love of that kind and it was so violent that I was likely to die of it?
The General It would be best for you to tell me nothing about it, and wait for your happiness until my death. And yet, since there is nothing more sacred, nothing more dear next to God and country, than children to their parents, children in their turn ought to hold sacred their parents’ wishes and never to disobey them, even after their death. If you do not remain faithful to this hatred of mine, I think I should come forth from my grave to curse you!
Pauline (kissing her father) Oh! you bad, bad man! At any rate, I shall now find out whether you can keep a secret or not. Swear to me on your honor that you’ll not repeat a syllable of what I told you.
The General I promise you that. But what reason have you for distrusting Gertrude?
Pauline
If I told you, you would not believe it.
The General
Are you trying to torture your father?
Pauline No. But which do you place first,—this hatred for traitors, or your own honor?
The General They are both first with me, for they are based upon a common principle.
Pauline Very well; if you throw away your honor by violating your oath, you may as well throw away your hatred. That is all I wanted to find out.
The General If women are angelic, they have in them also something of the diabolical. Tell me, who has filled the head of such an innocent girl as you are with ideas like these? This is the way they lead us by the—
Pauline (interrupting him)
Good-night, father.
The General
You naughty child!
Pauline Keep my secret, or I will bring you a son-in-law that will drive you wild.
(Pauline enters her own apartment.)