ve some intrigue, and that Monsieur Servin allows the young man
whom you love to stay in the dark attic. I have never believed these
calumnies nor said a word to my mother about them. But last night Madame
Roguin met her at a ball and asked her if she still sent me here. When
my mother answered yes, Madame Roguin told her the falsehoods of those
young ladies. Mamma scolded me severely; she said I must have known
it all, and that I had failed in proper confidence between mother and
daughter by not telling her. Oh! my dear Ginevra! I, who took you for my
model, oh! how grieved I am that I can't be your companion any longer."

"We shall meet again in life; girls marry--" said Ginevra.

"When they are rich," signed Laure.

"Come and see me; my father has a fortune--"

"Ginevra," continued Laure, tenderly. "Madame Roguin and my mother are
coming to see Monsieur Servin to-morrow and reproach him; hadn't you
better warn him."

A thunderbolt falling at Ginevra's feet could not have astonished her
more than this revelation.

"What matter is it to them?" she asked, naively.

"Everybody thinks it very wrong. Mamma says it is immoral."

"And you, Laure, what do you say?"

The young girl looked up at Ginevra, and their thoughts united. Laure
could no longer keep back her tears; she flung herself on her friend's
breast and sobbed. At this moment Servin came into the studio.

"Mademoiselle Ginevra," he cried, with enthusiasm, "I have finished my
picture! it is now being varnished. What have you been doing, meanwhile?
Where are the young ladies; are they taking a holiday, or are they in
the country?"

Laure dried her tears, bowed to Monsieur Servin, and went away.

"The studio has been deserted for some days," replied Ginevra, "and the
young ladies are not coming back."

"Pooh!"

"Oh! don't laugh," said Ginevra. "Listen: I am the involuntary cause of
the loss of your reputation--"

The artist smiled, and said, interrupting his pupil:--

"My reputation? Why, in a few days my picture will make it at the
Exposition."

"That relates to your talent," replied the girl. "I am speaking of your
morality. Those young ladies have told their mothers that Luigi was shut
up here, and that you lent yourself--to--our love."

"There is some truth in that, mademoiselle," replied the professor.
"The mothers of those young ladies are foolish women; if they had come
straight to me I should have explained the matter. But I don't care a