straw about it! Life is short, anyhow."

And the painter snapped his fingers above his head. Luigi, who had heard
part of the conversation, came in.

"You have lost all your scholars," he cried. "I have ruined you!"

The artist took Luigi's hand and that of Ginevra, and joined them.

"Marry one another, my children," he said, with fatherly kindness.

They both dropped their eyes, and their silence was the first avowal
they had made to each other of their love.

"You will surely be happy," said Servin. "There is nothing in life to
equal the happiness of two beings like yourselves when bound together in
love."

Luigi pressed the hand of his protector without at first being able to
utter a word; but presently he said, in a voice of emotion:--

"To you I owe it all."

"Be happy! I bless and wed you," said the painter, with comic unction,
laying his hands upon the heads of the lovers.

This little jest put an end to their strained emotion. All three looked
at one another and laughed merrily. Ginevra pressed Luigi's hand in a
strong clasp, with a simplicity of action worthy of the customs of her
native land.

"Ah ca, my dear children," resumed Servin, "you think that all will go
right now, but you are much mistaken."

The lovers looked at him in astonishment.

"Don't be anxious. I'm the only one that your romance will harm. But the
fact is, Madame Servin is a little straitlaced; and I don't really see
how we are to settle it with her."

"Heavens! and I forgot to tell you," exclaimed Ginevra, "that Madame
Roguin and Laure's mother are coming here to-morrow to--"

"I understand," said the painter.

"But you can easily justify yourself," continued the girl, with a proud
movement of her head. "Monsieur Luigi," she added, turning to him with
an arch look, "will no longer object to entering the royal service.
Well, then," after receiving a smile from the young man, "to-morrow
morning I will send a petition to one of the most influential persons at
the ministry of War,--a man who will refuse nothing to the daughter of
the Baron di Piombo. We shall obtain a 'tacit' pardon for Captain Luigi,
for, of course, they will not allow him the rank of major. And then,"
she added, addressing Servin, "you can confound the mothers of my
charitable companions by telling them the truth."

"You are an angel!" cried Servin.

While this scene was passing at the studio the father and mother of
Ginevra were becoming impatient at