"But at the most we need only be separated for a fortnight," Raphael
answered.
"Really! we are to be married in a fortnight?" and she jumped for joy
like a child.
"I am an unnatural daughter!" she went on. "I give no more thought to
my father or my mother, or to anything in the world. Poor love, you
don't know that my father is very ill? He returned from the Indies in
very bad health. He nearly died at Havre, where we went to find him.
Good heavens!" she cried, looking at her watch; "it is three o'clock
already! I ought to be back again when he wakes at four. I am mistress
of the house at home; my mother does everything that I wish, and my
father worships me; but I will not abuse their kindness, that would be
wrong. My poor father! He would have me go to the Italiens yesterday.
You will come to see him to-morrow, will you not?"
"Will Madame la Marquise de Valentin honor me by taking my arm?"
"I am going to take the key of this room away with me," she said.
"Isn't our treasure-house a palace?"
"One more kiss, Pauline."
"A thousand, _mon Dieu_!" she said, looking at Raphael. "Will it always
be like this? I feel as if I were dreaming."
They went slowly down the stairs together, step for step, with arms
closely linked, trembling both of them beneath their load of joy.
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