all my joy on forming a wife worthy of you—­a young soul who will make you happy, a cultivated intellect of which you can be proud.  I will promise you, Monsieur, I will swear to you, to consecrate to you this sweet duty, and to consecrate to it all that is best in myself.  I shall devote to it all my time, every instant of my life, as to the holy work of a saint.  I swear to you that I shall be very happy if you will only tell me that you will consent to this.”

His answer was an impatient exclamation of irony and anger:  then he spoke: 

“You will pardon me, Madame,” he said, “if so sudden a change in my sentiments can not be as prompt as you wish.”

She blushed slightly.

“Yes,” she said, with a faint smile; “I can understand that the idea of my being your mother-in-law may seem strange to you; but in some years, even in a very few years’ time, I shall be an old woman, and then it will seem to you very natural.”

To consummate her mournful sacrifice, the poor woman did not shrink from covering herself, even in the presence of the man she loved, with the mantle of old age.

The soul of Camors was perverted, but not base, and it was suddenly touched at this simple heroism.  He rendered it the greatest homage he could pay, for his eyes suddenly filled with tears.  She observed it, for she watched with an anxious eye the slightest impression she produced upon him.  So she continued more cheerfully: 

“And see, Monsieur, how this will settle everything.  In this way we can continue to see each other without danger, because your little affianced wife will be always between us.  Our sentiments will soon be in harmony with our new thoughts.  Even your future prospects, which are now also mine, will encounter fewer obstacles, because I shall push them more openly, without revealing to my uncle what ought to remain a secret between us two.  I can let him suspect my hopes, and that will enlist him in your service.  Above all, I repeat to you that this will insure my happiness.  Will you thus accept my maternal affection?”

M. de Camors, by a powerful effort of will, had recovered his self-control.

“Pardon me, Madame,” he said, with a faint smile, “but I should wish at least to preserve honor.  What do you ask of me?  Do you yourself fully comprehend?  Have you reflected well on this?  Can either of us contract, without imprudence, an engagement of so delicate a nature for so long a time?”

“I demand no engagement of you,” she replied, “for I feel that would be unreasonable.  I only pledge myself as far as I can, without compromising the future fate of my daughter.  I shall educate her for you.  I shall, in my secret heart, destine her for you, and it is in this light I shall think of you for the future.  Grant me this.  Accept it like an honest man, and remain single.  This is probably a folly, but I risk my repose upon it.  I will run all the risk, because I shall have all the