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〃You swear it？〃
〃Do I need to swear it？〃
How sweet it is to let oneself be persuaded by the voice that one loves！
Marguerite and I spent the whole day in talking over our projects for the
future； as if we felt the need of realizing them as quickly as possible。 At
every moment we awaited some event； but the day passed without
bringing us any new tidings。
Next day I left at ten o'clock； and reached the hotel about twelve。 My
father had gone out。
I went to my own rooms； hoping that he had perhaps gone there。 No
one had called。 I went to the solicitor's。 No one was there。 I went back to
the hotel； and waited till six。 M。 Duval did not return； and I went back to
Bougival。
I found Marguerite not waiting for me； as she had been the day before；
but sitting by the fire； which the weather still made necessary。 She was so
absorbed in her thoughts that I came close to her chair without her hearing
me。 When I put my lips to her forehead she started as if the kiss had
suddenly awakened her。
〃You frightened me；〃 she said。 〃And your father？〃
〃I have not seen him。 I do not know what it means。 He was not at his
hotel； nor anywhere where there was a chance of my finding him。〃
〃Well； you must try again to…morrow。〃
〃I am very much inclined to wait till he sends for me。 I think I have
done all that can be expected of me。〃
〃No； my friend； it is not enough； you must call on your father again；
and you must call to…morrow。〃
〃Why to…morrow rather than any other day？〃
〃Because；〃 said Marguerite； and it seemed to me that she blushed
slightly at this question； 〃because it will show that you are the more keen
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about it； and he will forgive us the sooner。〃
For the remainder of the day Marguerite was sad and preoccupied。 I
had to repeat twice over everything I said to her to obtain an answer。 She
ascribed this preoccupation to her anxiety in regard to the events which
had happened during the last two days。 I spent the night in reassuring her；
and she sent me away in the morning with an insistent disquietude that I
could not explain to myself。
Again my father was absent； but he had left this letter for me：
〃If you call again to…day； wait for me till four。 If I am not in by four；
come and dine with me to…morrow。 I must see you。〃
I waited till the hour he had named； but he did not appear。 I returned to
Bougival。
The night before I had found Marguerite sad； that night I found her
feverish and agitated。 On seeing me； she flung her arms around my neck；
but she cried for a long time in my arms。 I questioned her as to this sudden
distress； which alarmed me by its violence。 She gave me no positive
reason； but put me off with those evasions which a woman resorts to when
she will not tell the truth。
When she was a little calmed down； I told her the result of my visit；
and I showed her my father's letter； from which； I said； we might augur
well。 At the sight of the letter and on hearing my comment； her tears began
to flow so copiously that I feared an attack of nerves； and； calling Nanine；
I put her to bed； where she wept without a word； but held my hands and
kissed them every moment。
I asked Nanine if； during my absence； her mistress had received any
letter or visit which could account for the state in which I found her； but
Nanine replied that no one had called and nothing had been sent。
Something； however； had occurred since the day before； something
which troubled me the more because Marguerite concealed it from me。
In the evening she seemed a little calmer； and； making me sit at the
foot of the bed； she told me many times how much she loved me。 She
smiled at me； but with an effort； for in spite of herself her eyes were veiled
with tears。
I used every means to make her confess the real cause of her distress；
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but she persisted in giving me nothing but vague reasons； as I have told
you。 At last she fell asleep in my arms； but it was the sleep which tires
rather than rests the body。 From time to time she uttered a cry； started up；
and； after assuring herself that I was beside her； made me swear that I
would always love her。
I could make nothing of these intermittent paroxysms of distress；
which went on till morning。 Then Marguerite fell into a kind of stupor。 She
had not slept for two nights。
Her rest was of short duration； for toward eleven she awoke； and；
seeing that I was up； she looked about her； crying：
〃Are you going already？〃
〃No；〃 said I； holding her hands； 〃but I wanted to let you sleep on。 It is
still early。〃
〃What time are you going to Paris？〃
〃At four。〃
〃So soon？ But you will stay with me till then？〃
〃Of course。 Do I not always？〃
〃I am so glad！ Shall we have lunch？〃 she went on absentmindedly。
〃If you like。〃
〃And then you will be nice to me till the very moment you go？〃
〃Yes； and I will come back as soon as I can。〃
〃You will come back？〃 she said； looking at me with haggard eyes。
〃Naturally。〃
〃Oh； yes； you will come back to…night。 I shall wait for you； as I always
do； and you will love me； and we shall be happy； as we have been ever
since we have known each other。〃
All these words were said in such a strained voice； they seemed to hide
so persistent and so sorrowful a thought； that I trembled every moment lest
Marguerite should become delirious。
〃Listen；〃 I said。 〃You are ill。 I can not leave you like this。 I will write
and tell my father not to expect me。〃
〃No； no；〃 she cried hastily； 〃don't do that。 Your father will accuse me
of hindering you again from going to see him when he wants to see you；
no； no； you must go； you must！ Besides； I am not ill。 I am quite well。 I had
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a bad dream and am not yet fully awake。〃
From that moment Marguerite tried to seem more cheerful。 There were
no more tears。
When the hour came for me to go； I embraced her and asked her if she
would come with me as far as the train； I hoped that the walk would
distract her and that the air would do her good。 I wanted especially to be
with her as long as possible。
She agreed； put on her cloak and took Nanine with her； so as not to
return alone。 Twenty times I was on the point of not going。 But the hope of
a speedy return； and the fear of offending my father still more； sustained
me； and I took my place in the train。
〃Till this evening！〃 I said to Marguerite； as I left her。 She did not reply。
Once already she had not replied to the same words； and the Comte de
G。； you will remember； had spent the night with her； but that time was so
far away that it seemed to have been effaced from my memory； and if I
had any fear； it was certainly not of Marguerite being unfaithful to me。
Reaching Paris； I hastened off to see Prudence； intending to ask her to go
and keep Marguerite company； in the hope that her mirth and liveliness
would distract her。 I entered without being announced； and found
Prudence at her toilet。
〃Ah！〃 she said； anxiously； 〃is Marguerite with you？〃
〃No。〃
〃How is she？〃
〃She is not well。〃
〃Is she not coming？〃
〃Did you expect her？〃
Madame Duvernoy reddened； and replied； with a certain constraint：
〃I only meant that since you are at Paris； is she not coming to join
you？〃
〃No。〃
I looked at Prudence； she cast down her eyes； and I read in her face the
fear of seeing my visit prolonged。
〃I even came to ask you； my dear Prudence； if you have nothing to do
this evening； to go and see Marguerite； you will be company for her； and
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you can stay the night。 I never saw her as she was to…day； and I am afraid
she is going to be ill。〃
〃I am dining in town；〃 replied Prudence； 〃and I can't go and see
Marguerite