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erstood　through　her；　of　which　I　should　never　have　had　any　idea。　Even　now　when　we　go　to　the　Louvre　with　papa；　or　to　the　exhibition　of　the　1st　of　May；　that　special　feeling　I　have　about　a　beautiful　piece　of　sculpture；　a　good　picture；　carries　me　back　immediately　to　Felicia。　In　my　early　girlhood　she　represented　art　to　me；　and　it　corresponded　with　her　beauty。　Her　nature　was　a　little　vague；　but　so　kind；　I　always　felt　she　was　something　superior　to　myself；　that　bore　me　to　great　heights　without　frightening　me。　Suddenly　she　stopped　coming　to　see　me。　I　wrote　to　her；　no　reply。　Later　on；　fame　came　to　her；　to　me　great　sorrows；　absorbing　duties。　And　of　all　that　friendship；　which　was　very　deep；　however；　since　I　cannot　speak　of　it　without'three；　four；　five'nothing　now　remains　except　old　memories　like　dead　ashes。〃

Bending　over　her　work；　the　brave　girl　made　haste　to　count　her　stitches；　to　imprison　her　regret　in　the　capricious　designs　of　her　tapestry；　while　de　Gery；　moved　as　he　heard　the　testimony　of　those　pure　lips　against　the　calumnies　of　rejected　young　dandies　or　of　jealous　comrades；　felt　himself　raised；　restored　to　the　proud　dignity　of　his　love。　This　sensation　was　so　sweet　to　him　that　he　returned　in　search　of　it　very　often；　not　only　on　the　evenings　of　the　lessons；　but　on　other　evenings；　too；　and　almost　forgot　to　go　to　see　Felicia　for　the　pleasure　of　hearing　Aline　talk　about　her。

One　evening；　as　he　was　leaving　the　Joyeuses'　home；　Paul　met　the　neighbour；　M。　Andre；　on　the　landing；　who　was　waiting　for　him　and　took　his　arm　feverishly。

〃Monsieur　de　Gery；〃　he　said　in　a　trembling　voice；　with　eyes　that　glittered　behind　their　spectacles；　the　one　feature　of　his　face　that　was　visible　in　the　darkness。　〃I　have　an　explanation　to　ask　from　you。　Will　you　come　up　to　my　rooms　for　a　moment？〃

There　had　only　been　between　this　young　man　and　himself　the　banal　relations　of　two　persons　accustomed　to　frequent　the　same　house；　whom　no　tie　unites；　who　seem　ever　separated　by　a　certain　antipathy　of　nature；　of　manner　of　life。　What　explanation　could　there　be　called　for　between　them？　He　followed　him　with　much　perplexed　curiosity。

The　aspect　of　the　little　studio；　chilly　under　its　top…light；　the　empty　fireplace；　the　wind　blowing　as　though　they　were　out　of　doors　and　making　the　candle　flicker；　the　solitary　light　on　the　scene　of　the　night's　labour　of　a　poor　and　lonely　man；　reflected　on　sheets　of　paper　scribbled　over　and　scattered　about；　in　short；　this　atmosphere　of　habitations　wherein　the　soul　of　the　inhabitants　lives　on　its　own　aspirations；　caused　de　Gery　to　understand　the　visionary　air　of　Andre　Maranne；　his　long　hair　thrown　back　and　streaming　loose；　that　somewhat　excessive　appearance；　very　excusable　when　it　is　paid　for　by　a　life　of　sufferings　and　privations；　and　his　sympathy　immediately　went　out　to　this　courageous　fellow　whose　intrepidity　of　spirit　he　guessed　at　a　glance。　But　the　other　was　too　deeply　moved　by　emotion　to　notice　the　progress　of　these　reflections。　As　soon　as　the　door　was　closed　upon　them；　he　said；　with　the　accent　of　a　stage　hero　addressing　the　perfidious　seducer；　〃M。　de　Gery；　I　am　not　yet　a　Cassandra。〃

And　seeing　the　stupefaction　of　de　Gery：

〃Yes；　yes；〃　he　went　on；　〃we　understand　each　other。　I　have　known　perfectly　well　what　it　is　that　draws　you　to　M。　Joyeuse's　house；　and　the　eager　welcome　with　which　you　are　received　there　has　not　escaped　my　notice　either。　You　are　rich；　you　are　of　noble　birth；　there　can　be　no　hesitation　between　you　and　the　poor　poet　who　follows　a　ridiculous　trade　in　order　to　give　himself　full　time　to　reach　a　success　which　perhaps　will　never　come。　But　I　shall　not　allow　my　happiness　to　be　stolen　from　me。　We　must　fight；　monsieur；　we　must　fight；〃　he　repeated；　excited　by　the　peaceful　calm　of　his　rival。　〃For　long　I　have　loved　Mlle。　Joyeuse。　That　love　is　the　end；　the　joy；　and　the　strength　of　an　existence　which　is　very　hard；　in　many　respects　painful。　I　have　only　it　in　the　world；　and　I　would　rather　die　than　give　it　up。〃

Strangeness　of　the　human　soul！　Paul　did　not　love　the　charming　Aline。　His　whole　heart　belonged　to　the　other。　He　thought　of　her　simply　as　a　friend；　the　most　adorable　of　friends。　But　the　idea　that　Maranne　was　interested　in　her；　that　she　no　doubt　returned　this　regard；　gave　him　the　jealous　shiver　of　an　annoyance；　and　it　was　with　some　considerable　sharpness　that　he　inquired　whether　Mlle。　Joyeuse　was　aware　of　this　sentiment　of　Andre's　and　had　in　any　way　authorized　him　thus　to　proclaim　his　rights。

〃Yes；　monsieur；　Mlle。　Elise　knows　that　I　love　her；　and　before　your　frequent　visits〃

〃Elise？　It　is　of　Elise　you　are　speaking？〃

〃And　of　whom；　then；　should　I　be　speaking？　The　two　others　are　too　young。〃

He　fully　entered　into　the　traditions　of　the　family；　this　Andre。　For　him；　Bonne　Maman's　age　of　twenty　years；　her　triumphant　grace；　were　obscured　by　a　surname　full　of　respect　and　the　attributes　of　a　Providence　which　seemed　to　cling　to　her。

A　very　brief　explanation　having　calmed　Andre　Maranne's　mind；　he　offered　his　apologies　to　de　Gery；　begged　him　to　sit　down　in　the　arm…　chair　of　carved　wood　which　was　used　by　his　sitters；　and　their　conversation　quickly　assumed　an　intimate　and　sympathetic　character；　brought　about　by　the　so　abrupt　avowal　at　its　opening。　Paul　confessed　that　he；　too；　was　in　love；　and　that　he　came　so　often　to　M。　Joyeuse's　only　in　order　to　speak　of　her　whom　he　loved　with　Bonne　Maman；　who　had　known　her　formerly。

〃That　is　my　case；　too；〃　said　Andre。　〃Bonne　Maman　knows　all　my　secrets；　but　we　have　not　yet　ventured　to　say　anything　to　the　father。　My　position　is　too　unsatisfactory。　Ah；　when　I　shall　have　got　/Revolt/　produced！〃

Then　they　talked　of　that　famous　drama；　/Revolt/；　upon　which　he　had　been　at　work　for　six　months；　day　and　night；　which　had　kept　him　warm　all　the　winter；　a　very　severe　winter；　but　whose　rigours　the　magic　of　composition　had　tempered　in　the　little　studio；　which　it　transformed。　It　was　there；　within　that　narrow　space；　that　all　the　heroes　of　his　piece　had　appeared　to　his　poet's　vision　like　familiar　gnomes　dropped　from　the　roof　or　riding　moon…beams；　and　with　them　the　gorgeous　tapestries；　the　glittering　chandeliers；　the　park　scenes　with　their　gleaming　flights　of　steps；　all　the　luxurious　circumstance　expected　in　stage　effects；　as　well　as　the　glorious　tumult　of　his　first　night；　the　applause　of　which　was　represented　for　him　by　the　rain　beating　on　the　glass　roof　and　the　boards　rattling　in　the　door；　while　the　wind；　driving　below　over　the　murky　timber…yard　with　a　noise　as　of　far…off　voices；　borne　near　and　anew　carried　off　into　the　distance；　resembled　the　murmurs　from　the　boxes　opened　on　the　corridor　to　let　the　news　of　his　success　circulate　among　the　gossip　and　wonderment　of　the　crowd。　It　was　not　only　fame　and　money　that　it　was　destined　to　procure　him；　this　thrice…blessed　play；　but　something　also　more　precious　still。　With　what　care　accordingly　did　he　not　turn　over　the　leaves　of　the　manuscript　in　five　thick　books；　all　bound　in　blue；　books　like　those　that　the　Levantine　was　accustomed　to　strew　about　on　the　divan　where　she　took　her　siestas；　and　that　she　marked　with　her　managerial　pencil。

Paul；　having　in　his　turn　approached　the　table　in　order　to　examine　the　masterpiece　had　his　glance　attracted　by　a　richly　framed　portrait　of　a　woman；　which；　placed　so　near　to　the　artist's　work；　seemed　to　be　there　to　preside　over　it。　Elise；　doubtless？　Oh；　no；　Andre　had　not　yet　the　right　to　bring　out　from　its　protecting　case　the　portrait　of　his　little　friend。　This　was　a　woman　of　about　forty；　gentle　of　aspect；　fair；　and　extremely　elegant。　As　he　perceived　her；　de　Gery　could　not　suppress　an　exclamation。

〃You　know　her？〃　asked　Andre　Maranne。

〃Why；　yes。　Mme。　Jenkins；　the　wife　of　the　Irish　doctor。　I　have　had　supper　at　their　house　this　winter。〃

〃She　is　my　mother。〃　And　the　young　man　added　in　a　lower　tone：

〃Mme。　Maranne　made　a　second　marriage　with　Dr。　Jenkins。　You　are　surprised；　are　you　not；　to　see　me　in　these　poor　surroundings；　while　my　relatives　are　living　in　the　midst　of　luxury？　But；　you　know；　the　chances　of　family　life　sometimes　group　together　natures　that　differ　very　widely。　My　stepfather　and　I　have　never　been　able　to　understand　each　other。　He　wished　to　make　me　a　doctor；　whereas　my　only　taste　was　for　writing。　So　at　last；　in　order　to　avoid　the　continual　discussions　which　were　painful　to　my　mother；　I　preferred　to　leave　the　house　and　plough　my　furrow　alone；　without　the　help　of　anybody。　A　rough　business。　Funds　were　wanting。　The　whole　fortune　has　gone　to　thatto　M。　Jenkins。　The　question　was　to　earn　a　livelihood；　and　you　are　aware　what　a　difficult　thing　that　is　for　people　like　ourselves；　supposed　to　be　well　brought…up。　To　think　that　among　all　the　accomplishments　gained　from　what　we　are　accustomed　to　call　a　complete　education；　this　child's　play　was　the　only　thing　I　could　find　by　which　I　could　hope　to　earn　my　bread。　A　few　savings；　my　own　purse；　slender　like　that　of　most　young　men；　served　to　buy　my　first　outfit　and　I　installed　myself　here　far　away；　in　the　remotest　region　of　Paris；　in　order　not　to　embarrass　my　relatives。　Between　ourselves；　I　don't　expect　to　make　a　fortune　out　of　photography。　The　first　days　especially　were　very　difficult。　Nobody　came；　or　if　by　chance　some　unfortunate　wight　did　mount；　I　made　a　failure　of　him；　got　on　my　plate　only　an　image