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Rh who is unaware of them? I will have the courage of my caddishness."

Time passed and his eyes examined the heaps of leaves with decreasing interest. His imagination returned pleasantly to the joys of a little before, and he longed to be able to lay his trembling hand once more on Rose's breast and to drink her breath in a kiss.

M. Hervart was recovering all his self-possession. He concluded:

"Well, it's a very curious adventure and one that will increase the sum of my knowledge and of my pleasures."

Rose, feeling the pressure of his ﬁngers, had the courage, at last, to look at him. He smiled and she was reassured.

"You won't leave me, will you?" she said. "Promise. When we are married we'll live wherever you like, but till then, I want you near me, in my house, in my garden, my woods, my ﬁelds. Do you understand?"

"Child, I love you and I understand that you love me too."

"Why 'too'? I loved you ﬁrst; I don't like that word; it expresses a kind of imitation."

"It's true," said M. Hervart. "We fell in