alls, and the tiled floor, colored and waxed by Eve herself, shone with
cleanliness. On the little round table in the middle of the room stood a
red tray with a pattern of gilt roses, and three cups and a sugar-basin
of Limoges porcelain. Eve slept in the little adjoining closet, where
there was just room for a narrow bed, an old-fashioned low chair, and a
work-table by the window; there was about as much space as there is in a
ship's cabin, and the door always stood open for the sake of air. But if
all these things spoke of great poverty, the atmosphere was sedate and
studious; and for those who knew the mother and children, there was
something touchingly appropriate in their surroundings.

Lucien was tying his cravat when David's step sounded outside in the
little yard, and in another moment the young printer appeared. From his
manner and looks he seemed to have come down in a hurry.

"Well, David!" cried the ambitious poet, "we have gained the day! She
loves me! You shall come too."

"No," David said with some confusion, "I came down to thank you for this
proof of friendship, but I have been thinking things over seriously. My
own life is cut out for me, Lucien. I am David Sechard, printer to His
Majesty in Angouleme, with my name at the bottom of the bills posted
on every wall. For people of that class, I am an artisan, or I am in
business, if you like it better, but I am a craftsman who lives over a
shop in the Rue de Beaulieu at the corner of the Place du Murier. I have
not the wealth of a Keller just yet, nor the name of a Desplein, two
sorts of power that the nobles still try to ignore, and--I am so far
agreed with them--this power is nothing without a knowledge of the
world and the manners of a gentleman. How am I to prove my claim to this
sudden elevation? I should only make myself a laughing-stock for nobles
and _bourgeoisie_ to boot. As for you, your position is different. A
foreman is not committed to anything. You are busy gaining knowledge
that will be indispensable by and by; you can explain your present work
by your future. And, in any case, you can leave your place to-morrow and
begin something else; you might study law or diplomacy, or go into
civil service. Nobody had docketed and pigeon-holed _you_, in fact. Take
advantage of your social maiden fame to walk alone and grasp honors.
Enjoy all pleasures gladly, even frivolous pleasures. I wish you luck,
Lucien; I shall enjoy your success; you will be l