Conscience -- Volume 1

pressed him to her, and with arms

she said. "What a

off her long gray cloak that

she asked, as she

ou ask

r you say th

t lamp that gives me light in the

r Vi

uby- colored lips gave her the effect of a pretty doll; and she had gayety, playful vivacity, gracious effrontery, and a passionate caressing glance. Dressed extravagantly, like the Parisian woman who has not a so

th you," she said, gayl

re that was not

you?" she as

at

you go

N

ure that showed indifference,

taken, my li

between us words are not necessary; that I read in your eyes what you would say, in

y. Then going to a chair on which he had thrown his coa

er," he said, sh

s making you lose your head.

iled

t time th

pocket and brought

at a restaurant

herself in

I who accuse you, when I ought to embrace your knees. And you do not scold me;

If I might be assured that

torm continued I would dine at the pension. You can imagine with what joy I listened to the wind all day, and watched the rain and leaves falling, arid the dead branches waving in the whirlwind. Thank God, the weather was bad en

n her clo

while I make

I have three tonics to recommend, four preparations of iron, a dye, two capillary

the table; we will set it together when you ha

verything i

k on the dark side?

t to th

extravagant

r," she replied, s

him, she embraced

or

he ra

d discreet, he was struck by the vivacity and gayety of her expression. He really enjoyed looking at this pretty and pleasing young woman. However, his looks said nothing; if their eyes smiled when they met, that was all; they did not make each other's acquaintance. When they left the train they did not notice each other; if he took the left side of the street, she took the other, and vice versa. This state of things lasted several months without a word having been exchanged between them; in due time they learned each other's names and professions. She was a professor of drawing, as he supposed, the daughter of an artist who h

each the station. As you have no umbrella, will you per

de until the rain began to fall, when she drew neare

etter than Virginia

is Virgini

t read Paul

N

mocking smile, wonderin

pay attention to a woman? Those that he had known since his arrival in Paris had not had the slightest influence over him, and he retained only faint memories of them. On the contrary, thinking of this walk in the rain, he remembered this young girl with a vividness entirely new to him. She made a strong impression on him, and it remained. He saw her again, with her smile that s

le his life, already so hard and heavily weighted, with a woman? A fine thing, truly, and nature had built him to

wished. With one look she mastered him. He met her, furious at the influence she exercised over him, and agains

erating; and he only excused himself for submitting to them by saying that they could in no way modify th

n he was dying of hunger he was not going to commit the folly of taking a wife. What would he have to give her? Misery,

sold, and, after the debts were paid, nothing remained but some furniture. His widow, son, and daughter must work. The widow, having no trade, took in sewing; the son left college to become the clerk of a money-lender named Caffie; the daughter, who, happily for her, had learned to draw and paint und

oubted, certainly he would not mar

seeing her and listening to her? His life was neither gay nor happy; he felt perfectly sure of himself, and, as

emed equal on both sides, meeting in the station, arrang

on, when they decided to take a walk after their las

hen Phillis expressed a wish to rest for a few minutes. They seated them

ver spoken of marriage,

ved eac