ith
any one. Nevertheless she would send her sons to college, in order to
fit them for living in the world, and to teach them early those
principles of justice and equality which are the foundation of every
good manly character. Leon let her talk on, only interrupting her to
agree with her: for these two young people who had been educated and
brought up with the same ideas, saw everything with the same eyes.
Education had created this pleasant harmony rather than Love.

"Do you know," said Clementine, "that I felt an awful palpitation of the
heart when I entered the room where you were yesterday?"

"If you think that my heart beat less violently than yours--"

"Oh! but it was a different thing with me: I was afraid."

"What of?"

"I was afraid that I should not find you the same as I had seen you in
my thoughts. Remember that it had been three years since we bid each
other good bye. I remembered distinctly what you were when you went
away, and, with imagination helping memory a little, I had reconstructed
my Leon entire. But if you had no longer resembled him! What would have
become of me in the presence of a new Leon, when I had formed the
pleasant habit of loving the other?"

"You make me tremble. But your first greeting reassured me in advance."

"Tut, sir! Don't speak of that first greeting, or you will make me blush
a second time. Let us speak rather of that poor colonel who made me shed
so many tears. How is he getting along this morning?"

"I forgot to inquire after his health, but if you want me to--"

"It's useless. You can announce to him a visit from me to-day. It is
absolutely necessary that I should see him this noon."

"You would be very sensible to give up this fancy. Why expose yourself
again to such painful emotions?"

"The fancy is stronger than I am. Seriously, dear Leon, the old fellow
attracts me."

"Why 'old fellow?' He has the appearance of a man who died when from
twenty-five to thirty years of age."

"Are you very sure that he is dead? I said 'old fellow' because of a
dream I had last night."

"Ha! You too?"

"Yes. You remember how agitated I was on leaving you, and, moreover, I
had been scolded by my aunt. And, too, I had been thinking of terrible
sights--my poor mother lying on her death-bed. In fact, my spirits were
quite broken down."

"Poor dear little heart!"

"Nevertheless, as I did not want to think about anything any more, I
went to bed quickly, and shut my eyes wi