Your mitre will be ready the evening before the procession." Felicien left the design and bade them good-day, for he was greatly disappointed, and he had no longer the courage to give any new explanations in regard to the work, as an excuse for stopping longer.
What would he gain by doing so?
It was certainly true that she did not like him, for she had pretended not to recognise him, and had treated him as she would any ordinary customer, whose money alone is good to take.

At first he was angry, as he accused her of being mean-spirited and grasping.

So much the better! It was ended between them, this unspoken romance, and he would never think of her again.

Then, as he always did think of her, he at last excused her, for was she not dependent upon her work to live, and ought she not to gain her bread?
Two days later he was very unhappy, and he began to wander around the house, distressed that he could not see her.

She no longer went out to walk.