Rosine was always loving, but she had ceased to understand him.  A woman’s mind makes but few demands, if her heart is satisfied; so it was enough for her that her father was no longer one of the haters, that he remained compassionate and kind.  She did not want him to translate his sentiments into theories, nor above all, to proclaim them.  She had much affectionate common-sense, and as long as matters of feeling were safe, she did not care for the rest, not understanding the inflexible exigence of logic which pushes a man to the utmost consequences of his faith.

She had ceased to understand, and her hour had passed—­the time when, without knowing it, she had accepted and fulfilled a maternal mission towards her father.  When he was weak, broken, and uncertain, she had sheltered him under her wing, rescued his conscience, and given back to him the torch which he had let fall from his hand.  Now her part was accomplished, she was once more the loving “little daughter” somewhat in the shade, who looks on at the great events of life with eyes that are almost indifferent, and in the depths of her soul treasured devoutly the afterglow of the wonderful hour through which she had lived—­all uncomprehending.

It was about this time that a young man home on leave came to see Clerambault.  Daniel Favre was a friend of the family, an engineer like his father before him.  He had long been an admirer of Clerambault, for his keen intelligence was not limited to his profession; indeed the extended flights of modern science have brought his domain close to that of poetry, it is itself the greatest of poems.  Daniel was an enthusiastic reader of Clerambault’s writings.  They corresponded affectionately, knew each other’s families, and the young man was a frequent visitor, perhaps not solely for the pleasure of conversing with the poet.  He was a nice fellow, about thirty years old, tall, well set-up, with good features, a timid smile, and eyes which looked startlingly light in his sunburnt face.  They were all glad to see him, and Clerambault was not the only member of the family who enjoyed his visits.  David might easily have been assigned to duty in a munitions factory, but he had applied for a dangerous post at the Front, where he had quickly been promoted to the rank of Lieutenant.  Having a few days in town, he went to see Clerambault.

Madame Clerambault and Rosine were out, so the poet was alone, and welcomed his young friend with delight, but Daniel responded awkwardly, answering questions somewhat at random, and at last abruptly brought up the subject which he had at heart.  He said that he had heard talk at the front of Clerambault’s articles, and he felt very badly.  People said—­they made out that—­well, he had heard severe things about them; he knew people were often unjust, but he had come—­here he pressed Clerambault’s hand in a timid friendly way—­he had come to entreat him not to desert all those who loved him.  He reminded him of the devotion that had inspired the poet who had celebrated the traditions of French soil and the glories of the race....  “In this hour of trial,” he implored, “stand by us.”