Volume VI Part 27 (1/2)
She suddenly beca her hand on his arm, murmured: ”Do not let us speak of that yet a while”
But he divined that she accepted, and falling at her knees began to passionately kiss her hands, repeating: ”Thanks, thanks; oh, how I love you!”
She rose He did so, too, and noted that she was very pale Then he understood that he had pleased her, for a long time past, perhaps, and as they found the, tender, and decorous kiss on her forehead When she had freed herself, slipping through his arms, she said in a serious tone: ”Listen, I have not yetHowever, it may be--yes But you ive you leave to speak”
He swore this, and left, his heart overfloith joy
He was froards the visits he paid her, and did not ask for any more definite consent on her part, for she had a way of speaking of the future, of saying ”by-and-by,” and of shaping plans in which these two lives were blended, which answered him better and more delicately than a formal acceptation
Duroy worked hard and spent little, trying to save money so as not to be without a penny at the date fixed for his al The su anything, for they met very little, and only in the , Madeleine, looking hiht in the eyes said: ”You have not yet announced our intentions to Mada pro soul”
”Well, it is about time to tell her I will undertake to inform the Walters You will do so this week, will you not?”
He blushed as he said: ”Yes, to-morrow”
She had turned away her eyes in order not to notice his confusion, and said: ”If you like ill be ood tis with joy”
”The tenth of May, which is a Saturday, will suit me very nicely, for it is my birthday”
”Very well, the tenth of May”
”Your parents live near Rouen, do they not? You have told me so, at least”
”Yes, near Rouen, at Canteleu”
”What are they?”
”They are--they are small annuitants”
”Ah! I should very reatly perplexed, and said: ”But, you see, they are--”
Thenup his mind, like a really clever man, he went on: ”My dear, they are mere country folk, innkeepers, who have pinched themselves to the utmost to enable me to pursue my studies For my part, I am not ashaht, perhaps, render you uncohtfully, her face lit up with gentle kindness as she replied: ”No I shall be very fond of theo and see theain I, too, ahter of poor people, but I have lost er anyone in the world” She held out her hand to him as she added: ”But you”
He felt softened, moved, overcoht about one matter,” she continued, ”but it is rather difficult to explain”
”What is it?” he asked
”Well, it is this, my dear boy, I am like all wolitters, that catches the ear I should have so delighted to have borne a noble nae, ennoble yourself a little?”