240 THE MOTHER OP VICTOR HUGO. the Fouchers. After the first greetings, Madame Hugo, without removing her shawl or bonnet, would establish herself in one corner of the fireplace, take her work from a little bag and begin to crochet. Opposite her would sit M. Foucher with a candle and a snuff-box upon a stand beside him, and a book upon his knee. Between them would be Madame Foucher and the young people of both families, in silence. Now and then Madame Hugo would pause in her work for a moment to look into the fire, or would extend her snuff-box (for she, too, was a snuff- taker) to M. Foucher, saying : " Will you take a pinch, Monsieur Foucher ? " " Thank you, Madame," he would reply, helping him- self, and then again there would be silence, for the older people did not care to talk, and the younger were not permitted to do so in their presence. But these quiet evenings were not dull to Victor, for he found ample satisfaction in sitting still and stealing looks at Madem- oiselle Adele, with whom he had fallen very much in love. She returned his affection. When the state of affairs was discovered by her parents and Madame Hugo, all of them disapproved, for neither A dele nor Victor had property. He had his fortune to make, and both were very young. It was thought that if a mere boy and girl fancy existed between them, time and separation would destroy it ; while if it were something more they could afford to wait. By an arrangement among the parents, therefore, intercourse between the two families was broken off. Shortly before this, Madame Hugo suffered from a severe hemorrhage of the lungs, and had been nursed through her illness with devoted care by her sons. Victor had been intending to compete for the annual prizes offered at the Floral Games of Toulouse, but his mother's danger put all thought of composition from his mind.
