ear, Louise being also only
seventeen, it became necessary that he should leave the humble village
of Verny, and perfect himself in his trade as a cabinet-maker, by
visiting and working in some large and opulent towns. The lovers, amid
their increasing happiness, had never thought of this long separation;
so that when Henri was told by his father that he must leave home, and
be away three years, and Louise informed by her mother of the same
circumstance, the intelligence came upon them like an earthquake.
Woman's feelings are more easily excited, and Louise felt as if Verny
would be a desert without her dear Henri; he too was sad enough,
although the preparations for his journey occupied the greatest portion
of his time, and prevented his so continually thinking of the separation
as she did. Grief and regret were useless; the parting hour arrived, and
the now miserable pair were left to themselves. They mutually made vows
of eternal constancy and fidelity; as is the custom in the provinces,
they _exchanged rings_, and became rather more resigned to their
unavoidable separation.

Henri at last departed, and was ten miles from Verny before he could
comprehend how he had summoned up resolution enough to leave it.
Louise, shut up in her little room, was weeping bitterly, and felt
no inclination to go out, since she could no longer meet Henri; but,
in a short time, both of them, without feeling less regret, bethought
themselves of making the wearisome interval useful to their future
prospects.

During the first eighteen months, he travelled about from town to town;
but at last, in Lyons, made an engagement with a person who had a very
extensive business, of the name of Gerval, for the remaining period. His
master preferred cards and the bottle to work, and finding Henri honest
and attentive, was anxious to retain him in his situation. He had a
daughter, named Annette, a quick, lively, and fascinating girl, who
seemed rather disposed to coquet with Henri, and was somewhat frequently
in the workshop with him. Gerval observed, and by no means discouraged,
this, thinking that, even after all, his assistant would become neither
a bad partner for Annette nor himself; and that their intercourse, at
all events, would keep away Louis, a former workman, who had affected
a great regard for his daughter, but possessed very little inclination
to use the saw or the plane. All this attention was very delightful to
Henri, particularly as