nderstands all that; that's why I love her."

"She's a very good little girl, and most tidy--also extremely graceful.
But her father, to the best of my belief, can give her nothing."

Rosier scarce demurred. "I don't in the least desire that he should. But
I may remark, all the same, that he lives like a rich man."

"The money's his wife's; she brought him a large fortune."

"Mrs. Osmond then is very fond of her stepdaughter; she may do
something."

"For a love-sick swain you have your eyes about you!" Madame Merle
exclaimed with a laugh.

"I esteem a dot very much. I can do without it, but I esteem it."

"Mrs. Osmond," Madame Merle went on, "will probably prefer to keep her
money for her own children."

"Her own children? Surely she has none."

"She may have yet. She had a poor little boy, who died two years ago,
six months after his birth. Others therefore may come."

"I hope they will, if it will make her happy. She's a splendid woman."

Madame Merle failed to burst into speech. "Ah, about her there's much to
be said. Splendid as you like! We've not exactly made out that you're a
parti. The absence of vices is hardly a source of income.

"Pardon me, I think it may be," said Rosier quite lucidly.

"You'll be a touching couple, living on your innocence!"

"I think you underrate me."

"You're not so innocent as that? Seriously," said Madame Merle,
"of course forty thousand francs a year and a nice character are a
combination to be considered. I don't say it's to be jumped at, but
there might be a worse offer. Mr. Osmond, however, will probably incline
to believe he can do better."

"HE can do so perhaps; but what can his daughter do? She can't do better
than marry the man she loves. For she does, you know," Rosier added
eagerly.

"She does--I know it."

"Ah," cried the young man, "I said you were the person to come to."

"But I don't know how you know it, if you haven't asked her," Madame
Merle went on.

"In such a case there's no need of asking and telling; as you say, we're
an innocent couple. How did YOU know it?"

"I who am not innocent? By being very crafty. Leave it to me; I'll find
out for you."

Rosier got up and stood smoothing his hat. "You say that rather coldly.
Don't simply find out how it is, but try to make it as it should be."

"I'll do my best. I'll try to make the most of your advantages."

"Thank you so very much. Meanwhile then I'll say a word to Mrs. Osmond."

"Gardez-