ACT IV

52. On dit que st. — But they say she will be. Si is a much more empbatic affirmation than oui-, see Note 48 to "Les Petits oiseaux.'*

53. Si fêtais de Madame. — If I were in your place, Madam. The ellipsis to be sapplicd is, à la place., si fêtais à la place de M. De vous^ de toij preccded by que, are thus sometimes used for "in your place; " as, si fêtais que de vous, si fêtais que des médecins. (Molieke.)

64. Elle y tient! — She cares about it; or, She clings to it. 56. A ravir. — Adverbial phrase équivalent to admirably, or to perfection.

56. Ou c'est tout comme. — Or as good as purchased; literally, or juf?| tlie same.

57. Son. — The use of sow, in the phrase Je ne franchis pas une fois son large escalier, is grammatically incorrect, as it is a rule of French grammar that so?i, sa, ses, leur, leurs, relating to things and not preceded by a préposition, can only be used when the noun to which they refer is the subject of the sentence. Thus it is coiTect to say, Paris a ses beautés.^ or Je parle de ses beautésx but, speaking of Paris, it would not be correct to say, J'admire ses beautés. In the latter case, en and the article must bo used, and the phrase of Hëlène, corrected, would read. Je n' franchis "pas une fois le large escalier, — I never ascend its broad stairway.

68. Hôtel. — Mansion, résidence. This is a usual, though not the primitive acceptation of the word hôtel from the Low Latin. hospitale. Notice the beautifuî compound, Hôtel-Dieu^ hospital : " parce que les pauvres y Bont reçus pour Dieu." (Nicot.)

59. Je ne t'en veux pas. I do not find fault with you. En vouloir a means, literally, to have a grudge against, to be ve^ied wit'h.