d her thoughts, and began at once to tell Lucien about his own
plans.

If Lucien was full of his troubles, the lovers were quite as full of
themselves. So absorbed were they, so eager that Lucien should approve
their happiness, that neither Eve nor David so much as noticed his start
of surprise at the news. Mme. de Bargeton's lover had been dreaming of
a great match for his sister; he would reach a high position first, and
then secure himself by an alliance with some family of influence, and
here was one more obstacle in his way to success! His hopes were dashed
to the ground. "If Mme. de Bargeton consents to be Mme. de Rubempre, she
would never care to have David Sechard for a brother-in-law!"

This stated clearly and precisely was the thought that tortured Lucien's
inmost mind. "Louise is right!" he thought bitterly. "A man with a
career before him is never understood by his family."

If the marriage had not been announced immediately after Lucien's
fancy had put M. de Bargeton to death, he would have been radiant
with heartfelt delight at the news. If he had thought soberly over the
probable future of a beautiful and penniless girl like Eve Chardon,
he would have seen that this marriage was a piece of unhoped-for good
fortune. But he was living just now in a golden dream; he had soared
above all barriers on the wings of an _if_; he had seen a vision of
himself, rising above society; and it was painful to drop so suddenly
down to hard fact.

Eve and David both thought that their brother was overcome with the
sense of such generosity; to them, with their noble natures, the silent
consent was a sign of true friendship. David began to describe with
kindly and cordial eloquence the happy fortunes in store for them all.
Unchecked by protests put in by Eve, he furnished his first floor with
a lover's lavishness, built a second floor with boyish good faith for
Lucien, and rooms above the shed for Mme. Chardon--he meant to be a
son to her. In short, he made the whole family so happy and his
brother-in-law so independent, that Lucien fell under the spell of
David's voice and Eve's caresses; and as they went through the shadows
beside the still Charente, a gleam in the warm, star-lit night, he
forgot the sharp crown of thorns that had been pressed upon his head.
"M. de Rubempre" discovered David's real nature, in fact. His facile
character returned almost at once to the innocent, hard-working burgher
life that he knew; he s