If the chances of my career sent me some day to a garrison in the depths of the Alps, or in some almost unknown village in Algeria, could I ask her to follow me?
Could I condemn her to the life of a soldier's wife, which is in some degree the life of a soldier himself?
Think of the life which she leads now, of all that luxury, of all those pleasures!" "Yes," said the Abbe, "that is more serious than the question of money." "So serious that there is no hesitation possible.

During the three weeks that I passed alone in the camp, I have well considered all that; I have thought of nothing else, and loving her as I do love, the reason must indeed be strong which shows me clearly my duty.

I must go, I must go far, very far away, as far as possible.

I shall suffer much, but I must not see her again! I must not see her again!" Jean sank on a chair near the fireplace.

He remained there quite overpowered with his emotion.