bear."

Then he would be silent, and for hours I would think of what he had
said to me; I pictured to myself our soldiers on the march, running to
keep themselves warm. But the thought of Catharine always came back to
me, and I have often thought since that when one is happy, the misery
of others affects him but little, especially in youth, when the
passions are strongest, and when we have had little knowledge of great
griefs.

After the frosts so much snow fell that the couriers were stopped on
the road toward Quatre-Vents. I feared that I could not go to see
Catharine on her fete-day; but two companies of infantry set out with
pick-axes, and dug through the frozen snow a way for carriages, and
that road remained open until the beginning of April, 1813.

Nevertheless, Catharine's birthday approached day by day, and my
happiness increased in proportion. I had already the thirty-five
francs, but I did not know how to tell Monsieur Goulden that I wished
to buy the watch; I wanted to keep the whole matter secret; and I did
not at all like to talk about it.

At length, on the eve of the eventful day, between six and seven in the
evening, while we were working in silence, the lamp between us,
suddenly I took my resolution, and said:

"You know, Monsieur Goulden, that I spoke to you of a purchaser for the
little silver watch."

"Yes, Joseph," said he, without raising his head, "but he has not come
yet."

"It is I who am the purchaser, Monsieur Goulden."

Then he looked up in astonishment. I took out the thirty-five francs
and laid them on the work-bench. He stared at me.

"But," he said, "it is not such a watch as that you want, Joseph; you
want one that will fill your pocket and mark the seconds. Those little
watches are only for women."

I knew not what to say.

Monsieur Goulden, after meditating a few moments, began to smile.

"Ah!" he exclaimed; "good! good! I understand now; to-morrow is
Catharine's birthday. Now I know why you worked day and night. Hold!
take back this money; I do not want it."

I was all confusion.

"Monsieur Goulden, I thank you," I replied; "but this watch is for
Catharine, and I wish to have earned it. You will pain me if you
refuse the money; I would as lief not take the watch."

He said nothing more, but took the thirty-five francs; then he opened
his drawer, and chose a pretty steel chain, with two little keys of
silver-gilt, which he fastened to the watch. Then h