d her head seemed bowed by more than the weight of
her blonde braids.

CHAPTER XIV.~~A MIDNIGHT INTERVIEW.

"Chateau des Aulnettes.

"I am not pleased with you, my child. M. Rondic has written to his
brother a long letter, in which he says, that in the year that you
have been at Indret you have made no progress. He speaks kindly of you,
nevertheless, but does not seem to think you adapted for your present
life. We are all grieved to hear this, and feel that you are not doing
all that you might do. M. Rondic also says that the air of the workshops
is not good for you, that you are pale and thin, and that at the least
exertion the perspiration rolls down your face. I cannot understand
this, and fear that you are imprudent, that you go out in the evening
uncovered, that you sleep with your windows open, and that you forget to
tie your scarf around your throat. This must not be; your health is of
the first importance.

"I admit that your present occupation is not as pleasant as running wild
in the forest would be, but remember what M. D'Argenton told you, that
'life is not a romance.' He knows this very well, poor man!--better,
too, to-day, than ever before. You have no conception of the annoyances
to which this great poet is exposed. The low conspiracies that have been
formed against him are almost incredible. They are about to bring out
a play at the Theatre Francais called '_La Fille de Faust_' It is not
D'Argenton's play, because his is not written, but it is his idea, and
his title! We do not know whom to suspect, for he is surrounded with
faithful friends. Whoever the guilty party may be, our friend has
been most painfully affected, and has been seriously ill. Dr. Hirsch
fortunately was here, for Dr. Rivals still continues to sulk. That
reminds me to tell you that we hear that you keep up your correspondence
with the doctor, of which M. d'Argenton entirely disapproves. It is
not wise, my child, to keep up any association with people above your
station; it only leads to all sorts of chimerical aspirations. Your
friendship for little Cecile M. d'Argenton regards also as a waste of
time. You must, therefore, relinquish it, as we think that you
would then enter with more interest into your present life. You will
understand, my child, that I am now speaking entirely in your interest.
You are now fifteen. You are safely launched in an enviable career.
A future opens before you, and you can make of yourself just wh