tarted the subject myself.

"I am going to announce an important piece of news," I said to her; "I
have found a convent for you where you can stay pending your mother's
arrival."

"Really!" she exclaimed, kissing me. "Oh, my dear Andre, how kind you
are!"

"Yes; but I must warn you. This realisation of your dream is only
possible at the cost of sacrifices, which will perhaps be hard for you
to make."

"What sacrifices? Tell me, quick!"

"First, assiduous work, and next, the sacrifice of your liberty; for
during the whole time you remain at this establishment, you won't be
able to leave the place."

"What does that matter?" she exclaimed, "provided I can see you every
day!"

"But that's exactly what will be impossible."

"Why?" she asked, in her simplicity.

"Because, according to our customs, bachelors are never admitted into
young ladies' schools," I replied, with a laugh.

"But as I belong to you," she continued, with an astonished look, "they
will not be surprised at your coming; are not you my master?"

"This reason, my dear, although a convincing one for you, would
constitute the greatest obstacle; for they must not be allowed on any
account to suspect that you are my wife. Mohammed alone will introduce
you either as his daughter or as a young lady under his charge, and, for
conventional reasons, which you will understand later on, this period of
study will be a period of separation for us."

I then let her know the whole truth about certain of our social
conventionalities, concerning which she was still in ignorance. When she
learned that our laws declared her free, and the equal of any
Frenchwoman, and that I had no longer any rights over her, she looked
inexpressibly pained.

"Good heavens!" she exclaimed, throwing herself into my arms, "what do
you mean? Am I free, and my own mistress, and not yours for ever?"

"You are mine, because I love you," I said to her very quickly, seeing
her agitation; "and so long as you do not _want_ to leave me--"

"Leave you! But what would become of me, then, without you?"

And her eyes filled with tears.

"What a foolish girl you are!" I replied, quite touched at her evident
pain; "you are exaggerating the significance of my words: your liberty
will make no difference in our relations."

"Why did you tell me this cruel truth, then? I was so happy in the
belief that I was your slave, and in obeying and loving you at the same
time."

"Still it was necessa