For how much that prospect of vale and mountain stood in their lives, how often they rose to it from the same bed, how often looked at it in sunshine and shadow with the house still and quiet below them, he seemed to know--to guess.
He had a swift mental vision of their lives, and then Madame Royaume's voice recalled him to himself.
"You are newly come to Geneva ?" she said, gazing at him.
"I arrived yesterday." "Yes, yes, of course," she answered.

She spoke quickly and nervously.
"Yes, you told me so." And she turned to her daughter and laid her hand on hers as if she talked more easily so.

"Your father, Monsieur Mercier," with an obvious effort, "is well, I hope ?" "Perfectly, and he begged me to convey his grateful remembrances.

Those of my mother also," the young man added warmly.
"Yes, he was a good man! I remember when, when he was ill, and M.
Chausse--the pastor, you know"-- the reminiscence appeared to agitate her--"was ill also----" The girl leant over her quickly.

"Monsieur Mercier has brought something for you, mother," she said.
"Ah ?" "His grateful remembrances and this letter," Claude murmured with a blush.