“………… The exhibition was an unprecedented event, with a number of celebrities from the political and business circles attending. The star of the show was our esteemed Ms. Adelaide, who praised Mr. Durenburg's recent paintings in high esteem.

It is worth mentioning that not only is his painting skills as high as ever, but Mr. Durrenburg is also very attentive and dedicated to teaching his students. In this exhibition, he also exhibited many paintings by his students, and the intention of promoting them was very obvious.

Considered to be the finest of these was Mademoiselle de Treville, whose paintings were so well received that Adelaide praised her even more directly in front of the public.

This gives us reason to believe that a dazzling new star is about to rise in the French painting world; In the garden of the Muses, a bright red rose was added............"

Charles held the newspaper and deliberately read it slowly word by word, while looking at his sister across the table with bad intentions.

Fran bowed her head deeply, almost as if she were going to bury her face in bread, but her red ears betrayed her, telling the people how proud and excited the girl was at the moment.

Although Charles read slowly, the newsletter had a limited number of words, so he quickly finished reading. He is happy with his sister's success from the bottom of his heart, and he feels honored.

But it's a pity, because there is something temporary, the old Marquis of Trevil went out early in the morning, otherwise he would have seized this opportunity to joke with Fran.

After reading it. He gently set the newspaper aside, then shouted in a deliberately exaggerated tone.

"Oh! Congratulations, our 'new star' Mademoiselle de Treville! You're really famous! ”

His sister was completely unresponsive. I just buried my head in it, and I didn't know if I was eating.

After laughing for a while, Charles finally gave up teasing his sister, and his tone became solemn again.

"Well, no kidding. Fran, I really didn't expect Lady Adelaide to compliment you like that, it seems. You can really become a well-known painter in the future. However, I hope you don't get complacent and give up on honing yourself. There is still a long way to go. Your paintings are stunning now, just because of your age, and if you're still at this level in a few years, that's a pity......"

"I know. I'm just a little bit of a celebrity now. It's still far from the dream. Fran finally said the first sentence, her voice so weak that it was almost inaudible, "Brother, don't worry, you will continue to work hard......"

She didn't tell her brother about talking to the lady about her mother, because she didn't want Charles to worry.

In order not to make herself sad, her brother never talked to her about his parents; Similarly, in order not to worry her brother, she would not mention her mother. The two siblings have this tacit understanding almost tacitly. Avoided a topic that was taboo for Fran.

"That's good."

Because the exhibition was too laborious, the old painter gave his students a long vacation. Therefore, Fran didn't have to go to study recently, Charles was worried that she would waste her practice because of pride and complacency, and now seeing that her sister is so well-behaved and sensible, Charles will not say anything more, so as not to bring unnecessary pressure to her. So, he turned his attention back to the food.

"Before I went home yesterday, I met Marie and Mademoiselle Delion," said Fran, whose voice was still very low, "and they said they were coming here to-day, and that they would be nice to celebrate with me......

"Oh? Absolutely. "Charles, of course, would not object to a visit from his sister's friend.

Just then, the servant walked in and reported that the two young ladies had arrived.

Because of their friendship and close contacts, Fran had already instructed the porter not to wait at the door when Mary came, so they took the carriage directly into the mansion.

"It's coming so soon!" Fran let out a small exclamation and looked up, her face full of surprise. Then she quickly got up and ran to the door to greet her.

Looking at his cheering sister, Charles smiled and shook his head, and then continued to eat the rest of his breakfast.

Soon, there were several cheerful conversations outside the door, and it was clear that the three girls had met together, and they were still talking happily.

Hey, I really envy these children, they can live so carefree! He sighed silently in his heart, completely forgetting that he was only a twenty-year-old young man on the surface.

No, I'm a traverser, I'm a conqueror of destiny, I'm a man who has to change shijie, I don't have time to be carefree, and I don't need to be carefree. My pleasure is just so that Fran can continue to live this carefree life. He retorted to himself in his heart.

As Charles had just finished breakfast, the three girls entered the living room. Matilda was wearing a long black dress and tortoiseshell-rimmed glasses on her face, looking very solemn, as if she was attending some ceremony; Mary, on the other hand, wore a dress adorned with floral ornaments, and had a pleasant expression on her face, as if she was overjoyed at her friend's success.

Charles put down the utensils and walked out of the dining room, smiling and nodding to the two visitors.

"Mademoiselle de Dilillion, Mademoiselle de Léoland, welcome to the Humble House again."

The two girls also hurriedly saluted him.

These men were brought up with an aristocratic education that was extremely formal and deceitful - elders and teachers had told them countless times that there should be no deviation from aristocratic etiquette, whether they liked or hated a person. Then, after ten or twenty years of practice and practice, this kind of red tape has almost become a habit of life, but no one finds it cumbersome.

Therefore, generally speaking, in France and even Western Europe in this era, it is rare to see the kind of aristocrats who are violent and wanton, can't help but laugh or step on the commoners when they see them, and often scold and scold their servants. If Charlotte is average, their contempt and prejudice against civilians is hidden in a polite smile and almost impeccable etiquette.

Is the former kind of people hateful and terrible, or the latter kind of people are hateful and terrible? It's a really complex question, and it's hard to have an answer.

After the salute, Charles went to his study so as not to get in the way of his sister and her friends, and prepared to do his own thing.

Fran, on the other hand, entertained her friend.

"Oh, you're here!" She pretended to be angry, but there was still a residual smile on her face, "I thought you wouldn't see me!" Didn't come yesterday......"

"I'm sorry, Fran......" Mary seemed to take it seriously, with some apologies in her eyes, "Emily and her family had a ball yesterday, and I must go to ......"

The so-called prom, as Lola herself said, is probably an excuse for the aristocratic party among her classmates to find out that they are unwilling to cheer Lola on.

Fran sighed in her heart, and in her heart, she was very unimpressed with this kind of practice—it was too petty.

If you don't want to watch her proud, then draw a more haode painting than her to make her speechless! What's the point of doing little things behind your back? It will only seem that he has no measure and will make others laugh at him in vain. In the face of the attacks and victories of the bourgeoisie, did the aristocracy always maintain their dignity by passive evasion?

My brother wouldn't do that. If it were an older brother, he would not escape from reality, he would first congratulate the enemy on his victory, and then patiently find out the enemy's weaknesses to defeat him. Yes, my brother will do that.

Although she has always been impartial in the struggle between the two parties, in her heart, because of her background, Fran actually hopes that the aristocratic party can gain the upper hand, but she can only face the reality - the aristocratic party is neither capable of competing with others, nor is it determined to rely on its own efforts to win back a game. can only passively dodge and laugh at the other party's success with whispers behind their backs.

This is true in a small studio, but it is still true in a large society.

Has France finally come to this point? At this moment, Fran felt a little inexplicably sad in her heart.

Who would have thought that a fifteen-year-old girl would have so many thoughts? Maybe it's because she has an older brother who she idolizes and is taught by his words and deeds.

However, there is no need to say such things.

"It's too petty, it's a shame."

"Huh?" Fran was taken aback, she obviously didn't speak?

After a moment she reacted, and it was Matilda who spoke.

Under the cover of the glass lenses, the eyes of the granddaughter of the minister of the seal flickered, and there was no joy or anger, but the corners of her mouth were slightly upturned, with a little mockery, but also a little anger.

"Now I was so embarrassed in front of Lola, she must have thought I did it, and then laughed at me in her heart, thinking that the day I knelt down in front of her was not far off......"

"Didn't you organize it?" Fran was taken aback.

"No, I had important things to do that day, so I couldn't attend the exhibition. But I also told Emily that they should be there and convey my congratulations. I didn't expect ...... They don't even have that bit of courage, which is really disappointing. Matilda's tone was much more relaxed than usual, but there was a little more acerbity in it, "It's so disappointing." ”

"It wasn't you......" Fran secretly breathed a sigh of relief, "That's good, that's great." ”

"It's too good to be limited." Matilda continued to laugh at herself, then she looked at the stairs in the middle of the hall, "Fran, I have come today to congratulate you on one more thing......

"What's the matter?"

"I have something to talk to your brother about, it's a very important matter, so I can't chat with you for the time being." Matilda's tone was solemn, "You don't mind, do you?" ”

Fran was a little stunned, and then she quickly reacted under Matilda's gaze.

"Haode, of course you can." (To be continued......)