od Franz could come back to the earth he would be
happy to-day, but one cannot have everything." She said, also, that
the procession had done us good; but Catherine and I were too happy to
answer a word. We dined, and lunched, and took supper without seeing
or hearing anything, and it was nine o'clock when I suddenly perceived
it was time to go home. Catherine and Aunt Gredel and I went out
together, the moon was shining brightly, and they went with me to the
"Roulette," and while on the way we agreed that the marriage should
take place in fifteen days. At the farm-house, under the poplars, aunt
kissed me, and I kissed Catherine, and then watched them as they went
back to the village. When they reached home they turned and kissed
their hands to me, and then I came back to town, crossed the great
square, and got home about ten o'clock. Mr. Goulden was awake though
in bed, and he heard me open the door softly. I had lighted my lamp
and was going to my chamber, when he called, "Joseph!"

I went to him, and he took me in his arms and we kissed each other, and
he said:

"It is well, my child; you are happy, and you deserve to be. Now go to
bed, and to-morrow we will talk about it."

I went to bed, but it was long before I could sleep soundly. I wakened
every moment, thinking, "Is it really true that the permit has come?"
Then I would say to myself, "Yes; it is true." But toward morning I
slept. When I wakened it was broad day, and I jumped out of bed to
dress myself, when Father Goulden called out, as happy as possible,
"Come, Joseph, come to breakfast."

"Forgive me, Mr. Goulden," I replied; "I was so happy I could hardly
sleep."

"Yes, yes, I heard you," he answered and we went into the workshop,
where the table was already laid.

VI

After the joy of marrying Catherine, my greatest delight was in
thinking I should be a tradesman, for there was a great difference
between fighting for the King of Prussia and doing business on one's
own account. Mr. Goulden had told me he would take me into partnership
with him, and I imagined myself taking my little wife to mass and then
going for a walk to the Roche-plate or to Bonne-Fontaine. This gave me
great pleasure. In the meantime I went every day to see Catherine; she
would wait for me in the orchard, while Aunt Gredel prepared the little
cakes and the bride's loaf for the wedding. We did nothing but look at
each other for hours together; she was so fr