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Edna and her father had a warm, and almost violent dispute upon the

subject of her refusal to attend her sister's wedding Mr Pontellier

declined to interfere, to interpose either his influence or his

authority He was following Doctor Mandelet's advice, and letting her do

as she liked The Colonel reproached his daughter for her lack of

filial kindness and respect, her want of sisterly affection and wou He doubted

if Janet would accept any excuse--forgetting that Edna had offered

none He doubted if Janet would ever speak to her again, and he was sure

Margaret would not

Edna was glad to be rid of her father when he finally took hiifts, with his padded

shoulders, his Bible reading, his "toddies" and ponderous oaths

Mr Pontellier followed hi

on his way to New York and endeavor by every means which money and love

could devise to atone somewhat for Edna's incomprehensible action

"You are too lenient, too lenient by far, Leonce," asserted the Colonel

"Authority, coercion are what is needed Put your foot down good and

hard; the only way to e a wife Take my word for it"

The Colonel was perhaps unaware that he had coerced his oife into

her grave Mr Pontellier had a vague suspicion of it which he thought

it needless to ratified at her husband's leaving home as