now,Frances.”
Somemomentsweretakenforreflectiontheanswer,pronouncedslowly,ranthus:—
“YouhavealwaysmademehappyIliketohearyouspeakIliketoseeyouIliketobenearyouIbelieveyouareverygood,andverysuperiorIknowyouaresterntothosewhoarecarelessandidle,butyouarekind,verykindtotheattentiveandindustrious,eveniftheyarenotclever.Master,IshouldbeGLADtolivewithyoualways”andshemadeasortofmovement,asifshewouldhaveclungtome,butrestrainingherselfsheonlyaddedwithearnestemphasis—“Master,Iconsenttopassmylifewithyou.”
“Verywell,Frances.”
IdrewheralittlenearertomyheartItookafirstkissfromherlips,therebysealingthecompact,nowframedbetweenusafterwardssheandIweresilent,norwasoursilencebrief.Frances’thoughts,duringthisinterval,Iknownot,nordidIattempttoguessthemIwasnotoccupiedinsearchinghercountenance,norinotherwisetroublinghercomposure.ThepeaceIfelt,Iwishedhertofeelmyarm,itistrue,stilldetainedherbutwitharestraintthatwasgentleenough,solongasnooppositiontightenedit.Mygazewasontheredfiremyheartwasmeasuringitsowncontentitsoundedandsounded,andfoundthedepthfathomless.
“Monsieur,”atlastsaidmyquietcompanion,asstirlessinherhappinessasamouseinitsterror.Evennowinspeakingshescarcelyliftedherhead.
“Well,Frances?”Ilikeunexaggeratedintercourseitisnotmywaytooverpowerwithamorousepithets,anymorethantoworrywithselfishlyimportunatecaresses.
“Monsieurestraisonnable,n’est-cepas?”
“YesespeciallywhenIamrequestedtobesoinEnglish:butwhydoyouaskme?YouseenothingvehementorobtrusiveinmymanneramInottranquilenough?”
“Cen’estpascela—”beganFrances.
“English!”Iremindedher.
“Well,monsieur,Iwishedmerelytosay,thatIshouldlike,ofcourse,toretainmyemploymentofteaching.Youwillteachstill,Isuppose,monsieur?”
“Oh,yes!ItisallIhavetodependon.”
“Bon!—Imeangood.Thusweshallhaveboththesameprofession.Ilikethatandmyeffortstogetonwillbeasunrestrainedasyours—willtheynot,monsieur?”
“Youarelayingplanstobeindependentofme,”saidI.
“Yes,monsieurImustbenoincumbrancetoyou—noburdeninanyway.”
“But,Frances,Ihavenotyettoldyouwhatmyprospectsare.IhaveleftM.Pelet’sandafternearlyamonth’sseeking,Ihavegotanotherplace,withasalaryofthreethousandfrancsayear,whichIcaneasilydoublebyalittleadditionalexertion.Thusyouseeitwouldbeuselessforyoutofagyourselfbygoingouttogivelessonsonsix