Chapter 19 Chapter 19 A Family Affair

Perhaps when telling this story, the personal affairs of several protagonists were not mentioned much.Therefore, now it is necessary for us to look back and care about their private lives. To tell the truth, the kind-hearted Dr. Sarrazan did not completely forget his own existence just because he devoted himself to the cause of the collective and the cause of mankind. matter.When he heard Marcel's last few words and found that the latter's face was suddenly very pale, he couldn't help but startled.His eyes were trying to read in the young man's eyes the meaning of his sudden excitement.The young engineer was silent, and the older doctor was also silent, perhaps waiting for the young man to break the silence.However, Marcel did his best to calm himself down, and soon returned to normal.His face returned to its normal color, and his demeanor was completely that of a person who is waiting for the other party to continue the conversation he started.

Dr. Sarrazan, seeing Marcel's sudden composure, may have been a little overwhelmed.He approached his young friend, grasped the latter's arm with the customary gesture of a doctor, and began to take the pulse of the Marcel, as if carefully or casually, a patient. Although Marcel didn't quite understand what the doctor wanted to do, he let the doctor take his own pulse.Seeing that he was still silent, the old doctor said to him: "My dear Marcel, we will talk later about the future fate of Stahlstad. But even if a man has dedicated himself to the cause of improving the lot of all, he can still care about the fate of those he loves, care about The fate of the person closest to him. Here, I think it is time to tell you something. There is a girl, whose name I will tell you in a moment, who has had twenty proposals this year. Among the suitors Most of them are very good, and even the pickiest girl will agree, but when her parents asked her opinion again this time, she said again: 'No!' Always say 'No!' '"

At that moment Marcel jerked his arm out of the doctor's grasp. However, the doctor may have figured out the patient's condition, or he may not have noticed that the young man withdrew his arm and withdrew his trust in him, and continued to talk, as if he didn't mind the young man's move . "Finally, the mother of the girl I was talking about said to her: 'Then you must at least tell us why you keep saying no. Culture, property, status, and looks are all good! You don't even think about it. Think about it, always say "no"? You are not so unreasonable usually!' After repeated questioning from her mother, the girl finally decided to say it. Because she is a clear-headed and open-minded girl, so She poured out her mind. She said: 'I mean it when I say 'no' to you, and if I really want to, dear mother, I will answer 'yes'. You mentioned I agree with you that most of those suitors are acceptable to varying degrees. However, I think that all these suitors are not aimed at me, but at our family, which is the richest family in the city. Yeah, thinking about it, I can't say 'yes'. Since you want me to say it, I'll tell you straight up. All these suitors are not what I was and am waiting for Moreover, I would like to say something, even if I wait for this person, unfortunately, it will make me wait very hard!' My mother couldn't help being surprised when she heard this, and said, "What? Miss, you...' The mother didn't go on, because she didn't know what to say, she felt overwhelmed, and turned her eyes to her husband, obviously asking him for help. But perhaps he didn't want to join Perhaps because he felt it necessary to wait for the mother and daughter to speak more clearly about this argument before intervening, he pretended not to understand, so that the girl flushed with embarrassment, and perhaps also a little angry, suddenly decided to tell the whole story. She went on to say: "I have already told you, dear mother, the person I am looking forward to is likely to make me wait forever, and it is even possible that I will never wait. I would like to say something , I would not be surprised or hurt if I waited so hard and didn't come. My misfortune can be said to be that I am too rich and the person who should propose to me is too poor. Therefore, he does not come He was right to propose. He was waiting...' The mother, perhaps not wanting to hear what she feared her daughter was about to say, said hastily, 'Why didn't he mention it to us?'

At this time, the husband interrupted. "'My dear friend,' she said, seizing his wife's hands affectionately, 'it is your fault, for your daughter respects you very much, and does what you say, and she has done so almost since she was born. You have always heard you speak highly of that young man who was almost part of our family, and you made everyone admire his strength of character, when your husband, at every opportunity, praised how brilliant the young man was, You clapped your hands and applauded when you showed your loyalty and gratitude! If your daughter sees that the young man her parents value so much is not moved, it will be a failure of her daughter's filial piety!"

"'Ah! Dad,' the daughter immediately threw herself into her mother's arms to hide her embarrassment after hearing this, 'Since you have already guessed what I'm thinking, why do you insist on forcing me to speak out!' "'Why?' replied the father, 'just to hear it from you, my dear, just to prove that I am not mistaken, just to tell you, and your mother to tell you, that we agree with you. Your choice is exactly what we like, and it is to save the poor young man from having to make the request that hurts his self-esteem. It is up to me to raise this matter—yes, I will raise it, because I know his mind as well as yours. Don't worry! As soon as I have the right opportunity, I will ask Marcel if he is willing to be my son-in-law!  …'"

Unprepared for this, Marcel stood up abruptly, as if on springs in his legs.Octave silently took his hand, and Dr. Sarrazan extended his arms to him.The young Alsatian was pale as death.However, those strong people, when happiness suddenly breaks into their hearts without saying hello, isn't this the virtue! ...