Lucien until success comes. My courage will never fail," said
Eve, brightening. "There is no hardship in work when we work for one
we love; it is not drudgery. It makes me happy to think that I toil so
much, if indeed it is toil, for him. Oh, do not be in the least afraid,
we will earn money enough to send Lucien into the great world. There
lies his road to success."

"And there lies his road to ruin," returned David. "Dear Eve, listen
to me. A man needs an independent fortune, or the sublime cynicism of
poverty, for the slow execution of great work. Believe me, Lucien's
horror of privation is so great, the savor of banquets, the incense of
success is so sweet in his nostrils, his self-love has grown so much in
Mme. de Bargeton's boudoir, that he will do anything desperate sooner
than fall back, and you will never earn enough for his requirements.

"Then you are only a false friend to him!" Eve cried in despair, "or you
would not discourage us in this way."

"Eve! Eve!" cried David, "if only I could be a brother to Lucien! You
alone can give me that title; he could accept anything from me then;
I should claim the right of devoting my life to him with the love that
hallows your self-sacrifice, but with some worldly wisdom too. Eve, my
darling, give Lucien a store from which he need not blush to draw! His
brother's purse will be like his own, will it not? If you only knew
all my thoughts about Lucien's position! If he means to go to Mme. de
Bargeton's, he must not be my foreman any longer, poor fellow! He ought
not to live in L'Houmeau; you ought not to be a working girl; and your
mother must give up her employment as well. If you would consent to be
my wife, the difficulties will all be smoothed away. Lucien might live
on the second floor in the Place du Murier until I can build rooms for
him over the shed at the back of the yard (if my father will allow it,
that is.). And in that way we would arrange a free and independent life
for him. The wish to support Lucien will give me a better will to work
than I ever should have had for myself alone; but it rests with you to
give me the right to devote myself to him. Some day, perhaps, he will
go to Paris, the only place that can bring out all that is in him, and
where his talents will be appreciated and rewarded. Living in Paris is
expensive, and the earnings of all three of us will be needed for his
support. And besides, will not you and your mother need some one to lean
up