n and respect, "let me live as I am. The loveliness of the
night has agitated me. You are wrong; you would not know how to
console me, for you cannot understand my feelings."

The priest stretched out his arms, then slowly dropped them to his
side resignedly. And after a pause he said in a whisper:

"Doubtless that was bound to be the case. You call for succor and
reject salvation. How many despairing confessions I have received!
What tears I have been unable to prevent! Listen, my daughter, promise
me one thing only; if ever life should become too heavy a burden for
you, think that one honest man loves you and is waiting for you. To
regain content you will only have to place your hand in his."

"I promise you," answered Helene gravely.

As she made the avowal a ripple of laughter burst through the room.
Jeanne had just awoke, and her eyes were riveted on her doll pacing up
and down the table. Monsieur Rambaud, enthusiastic over the success of
his tinkering, still kept his hands stretched out for fear lest any
accident should happen. But the doll retained its stability, strutted
about on its tiny feet, and turned its head, whilst at every step
repeating the same words after the fashion of a parrot.

"Oh! it's some trick or other!" murmured Jeanne, who was still half
asleep. "What have you done to it--tell me? It was all smashed, and
now it's walking. Give it me a moment; let me see. Oh, you _are_ a
darling!"

Meanwhile over the gleaming expanse of Paris a rosy cloud was
ascending higher and higher. It might have been thought the fiery
breath of a furnace. At first it was shadowy-pale in the darkness--a
reflected glow scarcely seen. Then slowly, as the evening progressed,
it assumed a ruddier hue; and, hanging in the air, motionless above
the city, deriving its being from all the lights and noisy life which
breathed from below, it seemed like one of those clouds, charged with
flame and lightning, which crown the craters of volcanoes.

CHAPTER XVI.

The finger-glasses had been handed round the table, and the ladies
were daintily wiping their hands. A momentary silence reigned, while
Madame Deberle gazed on either side to see if every one had finished;
then, without speaking, she rose, and amidst a noisy pushing back of
chairs, her guests followed her example. An old gentleman who had been
seated at her right hand hastened to offer her his arm.

"No, no," she murmured, as she led h