"If you are in truth going to St. Petersburg," he said, "I will bid you
adieu now. If not--au revoir."

"I am going. Yes, Edouard, I am. I can not bear this country longer. My
heart is being torn to pieces. All my affections are outraged. Yes, I am
going--perhaps on Monday--perhaps on Monday week. But I go in truth. My
brother, adieu." Then she got up, and, putting a hand on each of his
shoulders, lifted up her face to be kissed. He embraced her in the
manner proposed, and turned to leave her. But before he went she made to
him one other petition, holding him by the arm as she did so. "Edouard,
you can lend me twenty napoleons till I am at St. Petersburg?"

"No, Sophie, no."

"Not lend your sister twenty napoleons!"

"No, Sophie. I never lend money. It is a rule."

"Will you give me five? I am so poor. I have almost nothing."

"Things are not so bad with you as that, I hope?"

"Ah! yes, they are very bad. Since I have been in this accursed
city--now, this time, what have I got? Nothing--nothing. She was to be
all in all to me, and she has given me nothing! It is very bad to be so
poor. Say that you will give me five napoleons--oh my brother." she was
still hanging by his arm, and, as she did so, she looked up into his
face with tears in her eyes. As he regarded her, bending down his face
over hers, a slight smile came upon his countenance. Then he put his
hand into his pocket, and, taking out his purse, handed to her five
sovereigns.

"Only five!" she said.

"Only five," he answered.

"A thousand thanks, oh my brother." Then she kissed him again, and after
that he went. She accompanied him to the top of the stairs, and from
thence showered blessings on his head till she heard the lock of the
door closed behind him. When he was altogether gone she unlocked an
inner drawer in her desk, and, taking out an uncompleted rouleau of
gold, added her brother's sovereigns thereto. The sum he had given her
was exactly wanted to make up the required number of twenty-five. She
counted them half a dozen times to be quite sure, and then rolled them
carefully in paper, and sealed the little packet at each end. "Ah!" she
said, speaking to herself, "they are very nice. Nothing else English is
nice, but only these." There were many rolls of money there before her
in the drawer of the desk--some ten, perhaps, or twelve. These she took
out one after another, passing them lovingly through her fingers,
looking at the little seal