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it。 After a slight pause； she looked at the notary with an amused
smile； and answered of her own accord； to the great joy of Monsieur de
Solis：
〃You are indeed a good relation；I expected nothing less of you； but
an interest of five per cent would delay our release too long。 I shall
wait till my brother is of age； and then we will sell out what he has
in the Funds。〃
Pierquin bit his lip。 Emmanuel smiled quietly。
〃Felicie； my dear child； take Jean back to school； Martha will go with
you；〃 said Marguerite to her sister。 〃Jean； my angel； be a good boy；
don't tear your clothes； for we shall not be rich enough to buy you as
many new ones as we did。 Good…bye； little one； study hard。〃
Felicie carried off her brother。
〃Cousin；〃 said Marguerite to Pierquin； 〃and you； monsieur；〃 she said
to Monsieur de Solis； 〃I know you have been to see my father during my
absence； and I thank you for that proof of friendship。 You will not do
less I am sure for two poor girls who will be in need of counsel。 Let
us understand each other。 When I am at home I shall receive you both
with the greatest of pleasure； but when Felicie is here alone with
Josette and Martha； I need not tell you that she ought to see no one；
not even an old friend or the most devoted of relatives。 Under the
circumstances in which we are placed； our conduct must be
irreproachable。 We are vowed to toil and solitude for a long； long
time。〃
There was silence for some minutes。 Emmanuel； absorbed in
contemplation of Marguerite's head； seemed dumb。 Pierquin did not know
what to say。 He took leave of his cousin with feelings of rage against
himself； for he suddenly perceived that Marguerite loved Emmanuel； and
that he； Pierquin； had just behaved like a fool。
〃Pierquin； my friend；〃 he said； apostrophizing himself in the street；
〃if a man said you were an idiot he would tell the truth。 What a fool
I am！ I've got twelve thousand francs a year outside of my business；
without counting what I am to inherit from my uncle des Racquets；
which is likely to double my fortune （not that I wish him dead； he is
so economical）； and I've had the madness to ask interest from
Mademoiselle Claes！ I know those two are jeering at me now！ I mustn't
think of Marguerite any more。 No。 After all； Felicie is a sweet；
gentle little creature； who will suit me much better。 Marguerite's
character is iron； she would want to rule meandshe would rule me。
Come； come； let's be generous； I wish I was not so much of a lawyer：
am I never to get that harness off my back？ Bless my soul！ I'll begin
to fall in love with Felicie； and I won't budge from that sentiment。
She will have a farm of four hundred and thirty acres； which； sooner
or later； will be worth twelve or fifteen thousand francs a year； for
the soil about Waignies is excellent。 Just let my old uncle des
Racquets die； poor dear man； and I'll sell my practice and be a man of
leisure； with fiftythousandfrancsayear。 My wife is a Claes；
I'm allied to the great families。 The deuce！ we'll see if those
Courtevilles and Magalhens and Savaron de Savarus will refuse to come
and dine with a Pierquin…Claes…Molina…Nourho。 I shall be mayor of
Douai； I'll obtain the cross； and get to be deputyin short；
everything。 Ha； ha！ Pierquin； my boy； now keep yourself in hand； no
more nonsense； becauseyes； on my word of honorFelicie
Mademoiselle Felicie Van Claesloves you！〃
When the lovers were left alone Emmanuel held out his hand to
Marguerite； who did not refuse to put her right hand into it。 They
rose with one impulse and moved towards their bench in the garden； but
as they reached the middle of the parlor； the lover could not resist
his joy； and； in a voice that trembled with emotion； he said；
〃I have three hundred thousand francs of yours。〃
〃What！〃 she cried； 〃did my poor mother entrust them to you？ No？ then
where did you get them？〃
〃Oh； my Marguerite！ all that is mine is yours。 Was it not you who
first said the word 'ourselves'？〃
〃Dear Emmanuel！〃 she exclaimed； pressing the hand which still held
hers； and then； instead of going into the garden； she threw herself
into a low chair。
〃It is for me to thank you；〃 he said； with the voice of love； 〃since
you accept all。〃
〃Oh； my dear beloved one；〃 she cried； 〃this moment effaces many a
grief and brings the happy future nearer。 Yes； I accept your fortune；〃
she continued； with the smile of an angel upon her lips； 〃I know the
way to make it mine。〃
She looked up at the picture of Van Claes as if calling him to
witness。 The young man's eyes followed those of Marguerite； and he did
not notice that she took a ring from her finger until he heard the
words：
〃From the depths of our greatest misery one comfort rises。 My father's
indifference leaves me the free disposal of myself；〃 she said； holding
out the ring。 〃Take it； Emmanuel。 My mother valued youshe would have
chosen you。〃
The young man turned pale with emotion and fell on his knees beside
her； offering in return a ring which he always wore。
〃This is my mother's wedding…ring；〃 he said； kissing it。 〃My
Marguerite； am I to have no other pledge than this？〃
She stooped a little till her forehead met his lips。
〃Alas； dear love；〃 she said； greatly agitated； 〃are we not doing
wrong？ We have so long to wait！〃
〃My uncle used to say that adoration was the daily bread of patience；
he spoke of Christians who love God。 That is how I love you； I have
long mingled my love for you with my love for Him。 I am yours as I am
His。〃
They remained for a few moments in the power of this sweet enthusiasm。
It was the calm； sincere effusion of a feeling which； like an
overflowing spring； poured forth its superabundance in little
wavelets。 The events which separated these lovers produced a
melancholy which only made their happiness the keener； giving it a
sense of something sharp； like pain。
Felicie came back too soon。 Emmanuel； inspired by that delightful tact
of love which discerns all feelings； left the sisters alone；
exchanging a look with Marguerite to let her know how much this
discretion cost him； how hungry his soul was for that happiness so
long desired； which had just been consecrated by the betrothal of
their hearts。
〃Come here； little sister；〃 said Marguerite； taking Felicie round the
neck。 Then； passing into the garden they sat down on the bench where
generation after generation had confided to listening hearts their
words of love； their sighs of grief； their meditations and their
projects。 In spite of her sister's joyous tone and lively manner；
Felicie experienced a sensation that was very like fear。 Marguerite
took her hand and felt it tremble。
〃Mademoiselle Felicie；〃 said the elder； with her lips at her sister's
ear。 〃I read your soul。 Pierquin has been here often in my absence；
and he has said sweet words to you； and you have listened to them。〃
Felicie blushed。 〃Don't defend yours