There is nothing extraordinary in the son of a rich or noble family preparing himself to enter it.

If Gabriel decides on this course I shall ask you to--will you grant my request?
Say yes!" "What is it ?" "Let me be his tutor," he answered, trembling.
Marguerite looked at Monsieur de Solis; then she took his hand, and said, "Yes"-- and paused, adding presently in a broken voice:-- "How much I value the delicacy which makes you offer me a thing I can accept from you.

In all that you have said I see how much you have thought for us.

I thank you." Though the words were simply said, Emmanuel turned away his head not to show the tears that the delight of being useful to her brought to his eyes.
"I will bring both boys to see you," he said, when he was a little calmer; "to-morrow is a holiday." He rose and bowed to Marguerite, who followed him into the house; when he had crossed the court-yard he turned and saw her still at the door of the dining-room, from which she made him a friendly sign.
After dinner Pierquin came to see Monsieur Claes, and sat down between father and daughter on the very bench in the garden where Emmanuel had sat that morning.
"My dear cousin," he said to Balthazar, "I have come to-night to talk to you on business.

It is now forty-two days since the decease of your wife." "I keep no account of time," said Balthazar, wiping away the tears that came at the word "decease." "Oh, monsieur!" cried Marguerite, looking at the lawyer, "how can you ?" "But, my dear Marguerite, we notaries are obliged to consider the limits of time appointed by law.