“I have come to dine with you,” she said, gayly, “and I am so hungry.”

He made a gesture that was not lost upon her.

“Do I disturb you?” she asked, uneasily.

“Not at all.”

“Must you go out?”

“No.”

“Then why did you make a gesture that showed indifference, or, at least, embarrassment?”

“You are mistaken, my little Phillis.”

“With any one else I might be mistaken, but with you it is impossible.  You know that between us words are not necessary; that I read in your eyes what you would say, in your face what you think and feel.  Is it not always so when one loves—­as I love you?”

He took her in his arms and kissed her long and tenderly.  Then going to a chair on which he had thrown his coat, he drew from the pocket the bread that he had bought.

“This is my dinner,” he said, showing the bread.

“Oh!  I must scold you.  Work is making you lose your head.  Can you not take time to eat?”

He smiled sadly.

“It is not time that I want.”

He fumbled in his pocket and brought out three big sous.

“I cannot dine at a restaurant with six sous.”

She threw herself in his arms.

“O dearest, forgive me!” she cried.  “Poor, dear martyr!  Dear, great man!  It is I who accuse you, when I ought to embrace your knees.  And you do not scold me; a sad smile is your only reply.  And it is really so bad as that!  Nothing to eat!”

“Bread is very good eating.  If I might be assured that I shall always have some!”

“Well, to-day you shall have something more and better.  This morning, seeing the storm, an idea came to me associated with you.  It is quite natural, since you are always in my heart and in my thoughts.  I told mamma that if the storm 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 enough for mamma to believe me safe at the pension; and here I am.  But we must not fast.  I shall go and buy something to eat, and we will play at making dinner by the fire, which will be far more amusing than going to a restaurant.”

She put on her cloak quickly.

“Set the table while I make my purchases.”

“I have my article to finish that will be sent for at eight o’clock.  Just think, I have three tonics to recommend, four preparations of iron, a dye, two capillary lotions, an opiate, and I don’t know how many soaps and powders.  What a business!”

“Very well, then, do not trouble yourself about the table; we will set it together when you have finished, and that will be much more amusing.”

“You take everything in good part.”

“Is it better to look on the dark side?  I shall soon return.”

She went to the door.