Why they should not indissolubly bind themselves to each other at such a time as this; but we must choose the least of evils.

You will both now be a burden--no, I will not say a burden, but a charge--upon Henri; and he has a right to expect that a girl, who will depend for everything on him, shall not shrink from the danger of marrying him.

She has been happy to accept his love, and when she may be a comfort to him, she should not hesitate to give him her hand.

Besides, dearest, think what a comfort it will be to me to know that they are married before I die." There was one other subject on which he had made up his mind to speak, but on which even he, calm and collected as he was, found it difficult to express himself; he had, however, determined that it was his duty to do so, and though the words almost refused to come at his bidding, still he went through his task.
"You will be desolate for a time, Victorine, when I shall have left you," said he.
She answered him only by a look, but that look was so full of misery--of misery, blended with inexpressible love--that no one seeing her, could have doubted that she would indeed be desolate when he was gone.
"We have loved each other too well to part easily," he continued, "and, for a time, the world will all be a weary blank to you.

May God, who knows how to pour a balm into every wound, which in his mercy He inflicts, grant that that time may not be long! Listen to me patiently, love.