h, thunder! if I had ever made a discovery, rather
than put it up at auction I would have sold one of my eyes! Don't you see
that a new invention is like a child to a workman? He takes care of it,
he brings it up, he makes a way for it in the world, and it is only a
poor creature who sells it."

Robert colored a little.

"You will think differently, father," said he, "when you know why I sold
my plan."

"Yes, and you will thank him for it," added Genevieve, who could no
longer keep silence.

"Never!" replied Michael.

"But, wretched man!" cried she, "he sold it only for our sakes!"

The joiner looked at his wife and son with astonishment. It was necessary
to come to an explanation. The latter related how he had entered into a
negotiation with Master Benoit, who had positively refused to sell his
business unless one half of the two thousand francs were first paid down.
It was in the hopes of obtaining this sum that he had gone to work with
the contractor at Versailles; he had had an opportunity of trying his
invention, and of finding a purchaser. Thanks to the money he received
for it, he had just concluded the bargain with Benoit, and had brought
his father the key of the new work-yard.

This explanation was given by the young workman with so much modesty and
simplicity that I was quite affected by it. Genevieve cried; Michael
pressed his son to his heart, and in a long embrace he seemed to ask his
pardon for having unjustly accused him.

All was now explained with honor to Robert. The conduct which his parents
had ascribed to indifference really sprang from affection; he had neither
obeyed the voice of ambition nor of avarice, nor even the nobler
inspiration of inventive genius: his whole motive and single aim had been
the happiness of Genevieve and Michael. The day for proving his gratitude
had come, and he had returned them sacrifice for sacrifice!

After the explanations and exclamations of joy were over, all three were
about to leave me; but, the cloth being laid, I added three more places,
and kept them to breakfast.

The meal was prolonged: the fare was only tolerable; but the
over-flowings of affection made it delicious. Never had I better
understood the unspeakable charm of family love. What calm enjoyment in
that happiness which is always shared with others; in that community of
interests which unites such various feelings; in that association of
existences which forms one single being of so many!