thousandfrancsyouandIcanlive,andlivewell.”
Francesseemedtoconsider.Thereissomethingflatteringtoman’sstrength,somethingconsonanttohishonourablepride,intheideaofbecomingtheprovidenceofwhatheloves—feedingandclothingit,asGoddoestheliliesofthefield.So,todecideherresolution,Iwenton:—
“Lifehasbeenpainfulandlaboriousenoughtoyousofar,Francesyourequirecompleterestyourtwelvehundredfrancswouldnotformaveryimportantadditiontoourincome,andwhatsacrificeofcomforttoearnit!Relinquishyourlabours:youmustbeweary,andletmehavethehappinessofgivingyourest.”
IamnotsurewhetherFranceshadaccordeddueattentiontomyharangueinsteadofansweringmewithherusualrespectfulpromptitude,sheonlysighedandsaid,—
“Howrichyouare,monsieur!”andthenshestirreduneasyinmyarms.“Threethousandfrancs!”shemurmured,“WhileIgetonlytwelvehundred!”Shewentonfaster.“However,itmustbesoforthepresentand,monsieur,wereyounotsayingsomethingaboutmygivingupmyplace?Ohno!Ishallholditfast”andherlittlefingersemphaticallytightenedonmine.
“Thinkofmymarryingyoutobekeptbyyou,monsieur!Icouldnotdoitandhowdullmydayswouldbe!Youwouldbeawayteachinginclose,noisyschool-rooms,frommorningtillevening,andIshouldbelingeringathome,unemployedandsolitaryIshouldgetdepressedandsullen,andyouwouldsoontireofme.”
“Frances,youcouldreadandstudy—twothingsyoulikesowell.”
“Monsieur,IcouldnotIlikeacontemplativelife,butIlikeanactivelifebetterImustactinsomeway,andactwithyou.Ihavetakennotice,monsieur,thatpeoplewhoareonlyineachother’scompanyforamusement,neverreallylikeeachothersowell,oresteemeachothersohighly,asthosewhoworktogether,andperhapssuffertogether.”
“YouspeakGod’struth,”saidIatlast,“andyoushallhaveyourownway,foritisthebestway.Now,asarewardforsuchreadyconsent,givemeavoluntarykiss.”
Aftersomehesitation,naturaltoanoviceintheartofkissing,shebroughtherlipsintoveryshyandgentlecontactwithmyforeheadItookthesmallgiftasaloan,andrepaiditpromptly,andwithgenerousinterest.
IknownotwhetherFranceswasreallymuchalteredsincethetimeIfirstsawherbut,asIlookedathernow,Ifeltthatshewassingularlychangedformethesadeye,thepalecheek,thedejectedandjoylesscountenanceIrememberedasherearlyattributes,werequitegone,andnowIsawafacedressedingracessmile,dimple,androsytintroundeditscontoursandbrighteneditshues.Ihadbeenaccustomed