this disenchantment; but it would save her, this poor child, whom he
loved as he would have loved a daughter of his own. Yes; if she should
see Jean as he really was, see him intimately enough to realise the
truth of the life he was leading! But how could that be brought
about--and at the same time protect her and keep her _safe_?

She rose slowly to her feet, and stood before him, her hands still
tightly shut at her sides.

"I was so sure, so sure that you would help me!" she said miserably.
And then, in pleading abandon, she flung out her arms to him. "Oh,
won't you, Father Anton, won't you? Won't you try to understand? It
can do no harm, only--only it is all my life--just to see him, to be
near him for a little while, to know that it has all been a wonderful
thing for him--and he will never know, I will not let him know."

The cure's hands clasped and unclasped nervously.

"Would you promise that, Marie-Louise? That you would not speak to
him, that you would not let him know you were here in Paris?"

She answered him almost passionately, in hurt pride.

"Oh, how little you understand!" she cried. "Do you think that my love
is like that? Do you think that for anything in the world I would
force myself into his life? Do you think that is why I came? Yes; I
will promise that!"

"Well, well," said Father Anton soothingly, "we will see. But
first--eh?--a little supper? You are tired, my little Marie-Louise,
and hungry after the long journey. Come now, you will help me! We
will make a little omelette, and boil the coffee, and pretend that we
are in Bernay-sur-Mer--eh?"

He began to bustle around the room, setting out bread and cheese from
the cupboard, and putting the coffee-pot upon the stove--and presently
they sat down to the simple meal.

Marie-Louise ate very little; and finally, when she pushed her plate
away, the tears were in her eyes again.

"I cannot eat any more," she said. "I--oh, Father Anton, you said that
you would see. You meant that--that you _would_ help me, didn't you?"

It was plain, it was very plain that nothing would distract her for a
moment! Father Anton sighed again, and got up from his chair, and
began to pace the room. He had been turning a plan over and over in
his mind while he had watched her so anxiously during the meal. It was
strange how readily it had come to him, that plan! A monitor within
whispered the suggestion that perhaps it had come readily because