Friday, 17 January 1879

If I were sixteen I would be the happiest woman on earth.
This evening Robert-Fleury came, and now the evil tongues may hold their peace.
— Well, we have the prize?
— Yes, Monsieur.
— Quite right. And you know that you have fully earned it.
— Oh! Monsieur, I am glad you say so.
— Yes, fully earned — not only for your competition head; you deserve it for the whole body of your work. You have made very great progress, and I am very pleased that it has turned out this way and that you have the medal. You have thoroughly deserved it.
I was red and awkward as I listened, which even spoiled my pleasure in hearing it.
But my aunt was there, and trembling more than I was.
— Mademoiselle Breslau has made a pretty horror, he said to Amélie as he was leaving.
— It was so difficult, Monsieur!
— Oh! tut, tut, tut — the fact is she no longer works; she turns up from time to time, and if she is not paid compliments up to here, she goes off and vanishes for weeks. And yet she has done studies that...
— That head was so difficult, Monsieur, interrupted Amélie, who would defend the devil himself so long as it meant blaming the competitions.
— She does not work.
— She does something at home...
— She would do better to make a good showing in the competition;
The poor man is put out in front of Lefebvre and Boulanger.