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awaking her father's grief； and retarding his plunge into the gulf to
the depths of which he was； nevertheless； doomed to fall。 She
determined to go into society and force Balthazar to share in its
distractions。 Several good marriages were proposed to her； which
occupied Claes's mind； but to all of them she replied that she should
not marry until after she was twenty…five。 But in spite of his
daughter's efforts； in spite of his remorseful struggles； Balthazar；
at the beginning of the winter； returned secretly to his researches。
It was difficult； however； to hide his operations from the inquisitive
women in the kitchen； and one morning Martha； while dressing
Marguerite； said to her：
〃Mademoiselle； we are as good as lost。 That monster of a Mulquinier
who is a devil disguised； for I never saw him make the sign of the
crosshas gone back to the garret。 There's monsieur on the high…road
to hell。 Pray God he mayn't kill you as he killed my poor mistress。〃
〃It is not possible！〃 exclaimed Marguerite。
〃Come and see the signs of their traffic。〃
Mademoiselle Claes ran to the window and saw the light smoke rising
from the flue of the laboratory。
〃I shall be twenty…one in a few months；〃 she thought； 〃and I shall
know how to oppose the destruction of our property。〃
In giving way to his passion Balthazar necessarily felt less respect
for the interests of his children than he formerly had felt for the
happiness of his wife。 The barriers were less high； his conscience was
more elastic； his passion had increased in strength。 He now set forth
in his career of glory； toil； hope； and poverty； with the fervor of a
man profoundly trustful of his convictions。 Certain of the result； he
worked night and day with a fury that alarmed his daughters； who did
not know how little a man is injured by work that gives him pleasure。
Her father had no sooner recommenced his experiments than Marguerite
retrenched the superfluities of the table； showing a parsimony worthy
of a miser； in which Josette and Martha admirably seconded her。 Claes
never noticed the change which reduced the household living to the
merest necessaries。 First he ceased to breakfast with the family； then
he only left his laboratory when dinner was ready； and at last； before
he went to bed； he would sit some hours in the parlor between his
daughters without saying a word to either of them； when he rose to go
upstairs they wished him good…night； and he allowed them mechanically
to kiss him on both cheeks。 Such conduct would have led to great
domestic misfortunes had Marguerite not been prepared to exercise the
authority of a mother； and if； moreover； she were not protected by a
secret love from the dangers of so much liberty。
Pierquin had ceased to come to the house； judging that the family ruin
would soon be complete。 Balthazar's rural estates； which yielded
sixteen thousand francs a year； and were worth about six hundred
thousand； were now encumbered by mortgages to the amount of three
hundred thousand francs； for； in order to recommence his researches；
Claes had borrowed a considerable sum of money。 The rents were exactly
enough to pay the interest of the mortgages； but； with the
improvidence of a man who is the slave of an idea； he made over the
income of his farm lands to Marguerite for the expenses of the
household； and the notary calculated that three years would suffice to
bring matters to a crisis； when the law would step in and eat up all
that Balthazar had not squandered。 Marguerite's coldness brought
Pierquin to a state of almost hostile indifference。 To give himself an
appearance in the eyes of the world of having renounced her hand； he
frequently remarked of the Claes family in a tone of compassion：
〃Those poor people are ruined； I have done my best to save them。 Well；
it can't be helped； Mademoiselle Claes refused to employ the legal
means which might have rescued them from poverty。〃
Emmanuel de Solis； who was now principal of the college…school in
Douai； thanks to the influence of his uncle and to his own merits
which made him worthy of the post； came every evening to see the two
young girls； who called the old duenna into the parlor as soon as
their father had gone to bed。 Emmanuel's gentle rap at the street…door
was never missing。 For the last three months； encouraged by the
gracious； though mute gratitude with which Marguerite now accepted his
attentions； he became at his ease； and was seen for what he was。 The
brightness of his pure spirit shone like a flawless diamond；
Marguerite learned to understand its strength and its constancy when
she saw how inexhaustible was the source from which it came。 She loved
to watch the unfolding； one by one； of the blossoms of his heart；
whose perfume she had already breathed。 Each day Emmanuel realized
some one of Marguerite's hopes； and illumined the enchanted regions of
love with new lights that chased away the clouds and brought to view
the serene heavens； giving color to the fruitful riches hidden away in
the shadow of their lives。 More at his ease； the young man could
display the seductive qualities of his heart until now discreetly
hidden； the expansive gaiety of his age； the simplicity which comes of
a life of study； the treasures of a delicate mind that life has not
adulterated； the innocent joyousness which goes so well with loving
youth。 His soul and Marguerite's understood each other better； they
went together to the depths of their hearts and found in each the same
thoughts；pearls of equal lustre； sweet fresh harmonies like those
the legends tell of beneath the waves； which fascinate the divers。
They made themselves known to one another by an interchange of
thought； a reciprocal introspection which bore the signs； in both； of
exquisite sensibility。 It was done without false shame； but not
without mutual coquetry。 The two hours which Emmanuel spent with the
sisters and old Martha enabled Marguerite to accept the life of
anguish and renunciation on which she had entered。 This artless；
progressive love was her support。 In all his testimonies of affection
Emmanuel showed the natural grace that is so winning； the sweet yet
subtile mind which breaks the uniformity of sentiment as the facets of
a diamond relieve； by their many…sided fires； the monotony of the
stone；adorable wisdom； the secret of loving hearts； which makes a
woman pliant to the artistic hand that gives new life to old； old
forms； and refreshes with novel modulations the phrases of love。 Love
is not only a sentiment； it is an art。 Some simple word； a trifling
vigilance； a nothing； reveals to a woman the great； the divine artist
who shall touch her heart and yet not blight it。 The more Emmanuel was
free to utter himself； the more charming were the expressions of his
love。
〃I have tried to get here before Pierquin；〃 he said to Marguerite one
evening。 〃He is bringing some bad news； I would rather you heard it
from me。 Your f