Would you like me to speak to Armand ?" Marguerite seemed to be thinking, for she answered nothing.

My heart beat violently while I waited for her reply.
"No," she answered, "I will not leave Armand, and I will not conceal the fact that I am living with him.

It is folly no doubt, but I love him.
What would you have me do?
And then, now that he has got accustomed to be always with me, he would suffer too cruelly if he had to leave me so much as an hour a day.

Besides, I have not such a long time to live that I need make myself miserable in order to please an old man whose very sight makes me feel old.

Let him keep his money; I will do without it." "But what will you do ?" "I don't in the least know." Prudence was no doubt going to make some reply, but I entered suddenly and flung myself at Marguerite's feet, covering her hands with tears in my joy at being thus loved.
"My life is yours, Marguerite; you need this man no longer.