A Romance of Youth -- Volume 2

r that the wife of the concierge had just brought up. The letter was from Maurice, inviting his friend to

not dining with you th

urice Roger entertain

efore his time, livid of complexion, his eyes bloodshot, the rebellious lock of hair straggling over his right temple. Nothing was more heartbreaking than his senile

ould you prefer that we should dine together as usu

I know perfectly well that the life you lead with me is too monotonous. Go and amuse yourself, it w

it then,

rance of her. I think I have nearly finished my task. You are a young man, intelligent and honest, and you have now an employment which will give you your bread. However, I often ask myself-oh, very often-whether I have fulfilled my duty toward you. Ah! do not protest," added the unhappy man, whom Amedee had clasped in his arms. "No, my poor child, I have not loved you sufficiently; grief has filled too large a place in my heart; above all, during these last few years I have not been with you enough. I have sought solitude. You u

oulder, who softly stroked his son's b

will dress myself quickly and we will go to the office together; we will return the same

ly arose as if he had

with your friends. Sadness is dangerous at your age. As for myself, I shall go to dine with Pere Bastide, who has just received his pension, and has in

wn the stairs with a heavy step. A quarter of an hour after, as the young man was crossing the Luxembourg to go to the office, he met Louise Gerard with her roll

ith you, Amedee?" she

think that my father has changed

d at him with eyes sh

your father's health, you should think of only one thing, my friend; that is, that he has been tender and devoted to you; that he became a widower very young and he did

pable of work. I can see his poor hands tremble now. He will not even have a right to a pension. If he could not continue to work in the office he could hardly obtain a meagre relief, and that by favor only. And for long years I can only hope for an insuff

the large garden, under the leafless trees, where hung a sli

, and our dear Maria-she is the pet of us all, the joy and pride of the house-well, our Maria, all the same, has from time to time a new frock or a pretty hat. I have no experience, but it seems to me that in order to feel really unhappy I must have nobody to love-that is the only privation worth the trouble of noticing. Do you know that I have just had one of the greatest pleasures of my life? I noticed that papa did not smoke as much as usual, in order to be economical, poor man! Fortunately I found a new pupil at Batignolles, and as soon as I had the first month's pay in my

ornamented with large vases, they could see through the mist the reservoir with its two swans, the solitary gravel walks, the empty gra

lance at the dial. "Escort me as far at

s. Yes, she was a perfect picture of a "two francs an hour" music-teacher. What a good, brave girl! With what an overflowing heart she had spoken of her family! It was to earn tobacco for her father and a new frock for her pretty sister that she

such a friend as you, and for so many years! Do you remember when we

nd showing their ribs, were rubbing their noses against each other like a caress; then the horse on the left raised his he

atter! they are good friends, and th

Amedee, she climbed lig

rture, he went to M. Violette's office. There they told him that his father had just left, saying that he would dine at Gran