dded
violet gown was in keeping with this luxury, and he took snuff from a
gold box studded with diamonds.

"Here, my dear daughter," said Monsieur Bernard, taking Godefroid by the
hand, "is the neighbor of whom I told you."

He signed to his grandson to draw up one of two armchairs, similar in
style to the sofa, which stood beside the fireplace.

"Monsieur's name is Godefroid, and he is full of friendly kindness for
us."

Vanda made a motion with her head in answer to Godefroid's low bow; by
the very way in which her neck bent and then recovered itself, Godefroid
saw that the whole physical life of the invalid was in her head. The
thin arms and flaccid hands lay on the fine, white linen of the sheets,
like things not connected with the body, which, indeed, seemed to fill
no place at all in the bed. The articles necessary for a sick person
were on shelves standing behind the bedstead, and were concealed by a
drawn curtain.

"You are the first person, monsieur,--except my doctors, who are not men
to me,--whom I have seen for six years; therefore you cannot doubt
the interest you have excited in my mind, since my father told me
this morning that you were to pay me a visit--interest! no, it was an
unconquerable curiosity, like that of our mother Eve. My father, who is
so good to me, and my son, whom I love so much, do certainly suffice to
fill the desert of a soul which is almost without a body; but after all,
that soul is still a woman's; I feel it in the childish joy the thought
of your visit has brought me. You will do me the pleasure to take a cup
of tea with us, I hope?"

"Monsieur has promised to pass the evening here," said the old man, with
the air of a millionnaire receiving a guest.

Auguste, sitting on a tapestried chair at a marquetry table with brass
trimmings, was reading a book by the light of the candelabra on the
chimney piece.

"Auguste, my dear," said his mother, "tell Jean to serve tea in an hour.
Would you believe it monsieur," she added, "that for six years I have
been waited upon wholly by my father and son, and now, I really think, I
could bear no other attendance. If they were to fail me I should die.
My father will not even allow Jean, a poor Norman who has served us for
thirty years, to come into my room."

"I should think not!" said the old man, quickly; "monsieur knows him; he
chops wood and brings it in, and cooks; he wears dirty aprons, and would
soon spoil all this elegance in wh