ced by the
tops of ancient elms, and dominated by the high tower of St. Saturnin,
solitary and serene at this hour in the limpid gold of sunset.

"Ah, my God!" said Clotilde slowly, "one must be arrogant, indeed, to
imagine that one can take everything in one's hand and know everything!"

Pascal had just mounted on the chair to assure himself that not one of
his packages was missing. Then he took up the fragment of marble, and
replaced it on the shelf, and when he had again locked the press with a
vigorous turn of the hand, he put the key into his pocket.

"Yes," he replied; "try not to know everything, and above all, try
not to bewilder your brain about what we do not know, what we shall
doubtless never know!"

Martine again approached Clotilde, to lend her her support, to show her
that they both had a common cause. And now the doctor perceived her,
also, and felt that they were both united in the same desire for
conquest. After years of secret attempts, it was at last open war; the
_savant_ saw his household turn against his opinions, and menace them
with destruction. There is no worse torture than to have treason in
one's own home, around one; to be trapped, dispossessed, crushed, by
those whom you love, and who love you!

Suddenly this frightful idea presented itself to him.

"And yet both of you love me!" he cried.

He saw their eyes grow dim with tears; he was filled with an infinite
sadness, on this tranquil close of a beautiful day. All his gaiety, all
his kindness of heart, which came from his intense love of life, were
shaken by it.

"Ah, my dear! and you, my poor girl," he said, "you are doing this for
my happiness, are you not? But, alas, how unhappy we are going to be!"

II.

On the following morning Clotilde was awake at six o'clock. She had gone
to bed angry with Pascal; they were at variance with each other. And her
first feeling was one of uneasiness, of secret distress, an instant need
of making her peace, so that she might no longer have upon her heart the
heavy weight that lay there now.

Springing quickly out of bed, she went and half opened the shutters of
both windows. The sun, already high, sent his light across the chamber
in two golden bars. Into this drowsy room that exhaled a sweet odor of
youth, the bright morning brought with it fresh, cheerful air; but the
young girl went back and sat down on the edge of the bed in a thoughtful
attitude, clad only in her scant nightdress