You understand now that I cannot seriously ask you to share such an existence." But if, with this sketch of his life, correctly described, Panine thought to turn the young girl against him, he was mistaken.

He had counted without considering Jeanne's sanguine temperament, which would lead her to make any sacrifices to keep the man she adored.
"If you were rich, Serge," she said, "I would not have made an effort to bring you back to me.

But you are poor and I have a right to tell you that I love you.

Life with you would be all devotedness and self-denial.
Each pain endured would be a proof of love, and that is why I wish to suffer.

Your life with mine would be neither sad nor humiliated; I would make it sweet by my tenderness, and bright by my happiness.