Marie, you know how I care for you, how I have always cared for you, you know what I hope may be some day?
Has my voice no weight with you?
I do not ask you now to say you care for me, you are too young, but I thought you would perhaps learn, but to think of you going away to Paris?
Oh, my little Marie, you would never return to us the same!" "He stopped, and for a moment I stood still without speaking.

In spite of myself he made me listen.

He seemed to have guessed that though my parents had forbidden it, I had not yet given up the thoughts of going away, and in spite of my silly pride and my temper I was much touched by what he said, and the thought that if I went away he would leave off caring for me came to me like a great shock.

I had never thought of it like that; I had always fancied that whatever I did I could keep Didier devoted to me; I had amused myself with picturing my return from Paris quite a grand lady, and how I would pretend to be changed to Didier, just to tease him.

But now something in his manner showed me this would not do; if I defied him and my friends now, he would no longer care for me.
Yet--would you believe it, my little young ladies and young Monsieur ?--my naughty pride still kept me back.