Volume II Part 8 (1/2)
”Yes, I should like nothing better than to pa.s.s my youth with you, taking '_Love forever_!' for my motto.”
”I believe it: you are not difficult to please.”
”Where is the harm? We are neighbors.”
”If we were not neighbors, I should not walk out with you in this way.”
”Then allow me to hope--”
”Hope what?” ”That you will learn to love me.”
”I love you already.”
”Really?”
”To be sure I do and for a very simple reason. You are good and lively; although poor yourself, you do all you can for those unfortunate Morels, in interesting rich people in their behalf; you have a face that pleases me much, and a well-turned figure, which is agreeable and flattering to me, as I shall frequently accept your arm.
Here are, I think, many reasons that I should love you.”
Then interrupting herself to enjoy a hearty laugh, Miss Dimpleton cried: ”Look! look at that fat woman, with her old furrowed shoes; one could imagine her drawn along by two cats without tails!” And again she laughed merrily.
”I prefer looking at you, neighbor; I am so happy in thinking you already love me.”
”I tell you so, because it is so; if you did not please me, I should say so all the same. I cannot reproach myself with having ever deceived or flattered any one; when people please me, I tell them so at once.”
Then, interrupting herself again, to stop before a shop-window, the grisette exclaimed:
”Oh, look at that beautiful clock, and those two pretty vases! I have already saved up three francs and a half toward buying some like them.
In five or six years I may be able to manage it.”
”Saved up, neighbor? Then you earn--”
”At least thirty sous a day--sometimes forty, but I only reckon upon thirty; it is more prudent, and I regulate my expenses accordingly,”
said Miss Dimpleton, with an air as important as though it related to the transactions of a financier.
”But with thirty sous a day, how can you manage to live?”
”The reckoning is not difficult; shall I explain it to you, neighbor?
You appear rather extravagant, so it may serve you as an example.”
”Let's hear it.”
”Thirty sous a day will make forty-five francs a month, will it not?”
”Yes.”
”Well, then, by that account I have twelve francs for lodging, and twenty-three francs for living.”
”Twenty-three francs for a month's living!”