ing about Paris collecting cheques,
bank-notes, and orders.

[Illustration: "HE NOW BROUGHT THE SUM THUS GAINED."]

In the evening, as he sat down to ascertain the result of the day's
efforts. Auguste came in with his wife and Andree. To help his father,
the artist had parted with some of his pictures at a sacrifice, and he
now brought the sum thus gained.

Andree, unconscious of the trouble of her elders, began to play with her
"Jeanne," a doll nearly as big as herself, which her grandfather had
given her some time previously, and which she loved, she said, "as her
own daughter."

But the child soon observed the sadness of her parents and her dear
grandfather, and she looked with earnest, inquiring gaze from one to the
other, trying to discover what was amiss. She saw her father lay down
his pocket-book, she watched her mother place upon the table her
bracelets, necklaces, ear-rings, and rings, while Mons. Sauvallier
thanked them with tears in his eyes. With a very thoughtful, serious
expression on her little face, the child turned towards her doll,
embraced it with the emotional fervour of a last adieu, then carried it
to her grandfather, saying, in sweet, resigned tones: "Take it,
grandpapa! You can sell her, too."

Mons. Sauvallier wept upon the neck of his little granddaughter,
murmuring, "You also, my angel? Oh, that miserable boy!"

II.

Thus Camille's debt was paid, and the honour of the Sauvalliers was
saved. But the father's fortune had gone!

He was able, however, to retain his business. He said to himself that he
must work still, in spite of his threescore years; that he must labour
incessantly, with the anxious ardour of those beginning life with
nothing to rely upon save their own exertions.

He reduced his expenses, gave up his own house and went to live with his
son, sold his carriage and horses, discharged his servants, and stinted
himself in every possible way. Auguste became his designer, Auguste's
wife his clerk. Each accepted his or her share of the burden bravely and
uncomplainingly, as an important duty which must at any cost be
accomplished.

The conduct of this old man, so jealous for his name, so upright, so
courageous in misfortune, excited profound sympathy. All who knew him
pitied him; orders flowed in, and soon a quite exceptional activity
pervaded the establishment from basement to roof, inspiring Mons.
Sauvallier with a little hope. But one persistent fear disturbed his
sl