Heaven! You are no child that one should not speak of what exists; but I only uttered the word—the thing, I assure you, is alien to my whole life and views. It died in the past—in the present it lies buried—its grave is deep-dug, well-heaped, and many winters old: in the future there will be a resurrection, as I believe to my souls consolation; but all will then be changed—form and feeling; the mortal will have put on immortality—it will rise, not for earth, but heaven. All I say to you, Miss Lucy Snowe, is—that you ought to treat Professor Paul Emanuel decently".
I could not, and did not contradict such a sentiment.
"Tell me", he pursued, "when it is your fête-day, and I will not grudge a few centimes for a small offering".
"You will be like me, monsieur; this cost more than a few centimes, and I did not grudge its price".
And taking from the open desk the little box, I put it into his hand.
"It lay ready in my lap this morning", I continued: "and if monsieur had been rather more patient, and Mademoiselle St. Pierre less interfering—perhaps I should say, too, if I had been calmer and wiser—I should have given it then".
He looked at the box: I saw its clear warm tint and bright azure circlet, pleased his eyes. I told him to open it.
"My initials!" said he, indicating the letters in the lid. "Who told you I was called Carl David?"
"A little bird, monsieur".
"Does it fly from me to you? Then one can tie a message under its wing when needful?"
He took out the chain—a trifle indeed as to value, but glossy with silk and sparkling with beads. He liked that too—admired it artlessly, like a child.
"For me?"
"Yes, for you".
"This is the thing you were working at last night?"
"The same".
"You finished it this morning?"
"I did".
"You commenced it with the intention that it should be mine?"
"Undoubtedly".
"And offered on my fête-day?"
