g from me," he said at last.

"Well," exclaimed Eve, "he is going away with _her_."

Mme. Chardon came in again, and, not seeing David, began at once:

"Postel is willing to lend you the thousand francs, Lucien," she said,
"but only for six months; and even then he wants you to let him have a
bill endorsed by your brother-in-law, for he says that you are giving
him no security."

She turned and saw David, and there was a deep silence in the room. The
Chardons thought how they had abused David's goodness, and felt ashamed.
Tears stood in the young printer's eyes.

"Then you will not be here at our wedding," he began. "You are not going
to live with us! And here have I been squandering all that I had!
Oh! Lucien, as I came along, bringing Eve her little bits of wedding
jewelry, I did not think that I should be sorry I spent the money on
them." He brushed his hand over his eyes as he drew the little cases
from his pocket.

He set down the tiny morocco-covered boxes on the table in front of his
mother-in-law.

"Oh! why do you think so much for me?" protested Eve, giving him a
divinely sweet smile that belied her words.

"Mamma, dear," said David, "just tell M. Postel that I will put my name
to the bill, for I can tell from your face, Lucien, that you have quite
made up your mind to go."

Lucien's head sank dejectedly; there was a little pause, then he said,
"Do not think hardly of me, my dear, good angels."

He put his arms about Eve and David, and drew them close, and held them
tightly to him as he added, "Wait and see what comes of it, and you
shall know how much I love you. What is the good of our high thinking,
David, if it does not enable us to disregard the petty ceremonial in
which the law entangles our affections? Shall I not be with you in
spirit, in spite of the distance between us? Shall we not be united in
thought? Have I not a destiny to fulfil? Will publishers come here to
seek my _Archer of Charles IX._ and the _Marguerites_? A little sooner
or a little later I shall be obliged in any case to do as I am doing
to-day, should I not? And shall I ever find a better opportunity than
this? Does not my success entirely depend upon my entrance on life in
Paris through the Marquise d'Espard's salon?"

"He is right," said Eve; "you yourself were saying, were you not, that
he ought to go to Paris at once?"

David took Eve's hand in his, and drew her into the narrow little room
where she had slept for seve