“OfmydearSavinien，“criedthegirl，burstingintotears。“Yes，mygoodfriend，“shesaid，sobbing，“avoicetellsmeheisasnobleinheartasheisinrace。Hehasnotonlytoldmethathelovesmealone，buthehasproveditinahundreddelicateways，andbyrestrainingheroicallyhisardentfeelings。LatelywhenhetookthehandIheldouttohim，thateveningwhenMonsieurBongrandproposedtomeahusband，itwasthefirsttime，Isweartoyou，thatIhadevergivenit。Hebeganwithajestwhenheblewmeakissacrossthestreet，butsincethenouraffectionhasneveroutwardlypassed，asyouwellknow，thenarrowestlimits。ButIwilltellyou，——youwhoreadmysoulexceptinthisoneregionwherenonebuttheangelssee，——well，Iwilltellyou，thislovehasbeeninmethesecretspringofmanyseemingmerits；itmademeacceptmypoverty；itsoftenedthebitternessofmyirreparableloss，formymourningismoreperhapsinmyclothesnowthaninmyheart——Oh，wasIwrong？canitbethatlovewasstrongerinmethanmygratitudetomybenefactor，andGodhaspunishedmeforit？Buthowcoulditbeotherwise？IrespectedinmyselfSavinien’sfuturewife；yes，perhapsIwastooproud，perhapsitisthatpridewhichGodhashumbled。Godalone，asyouhaveoftentoldme，shouldbetheendandobjectofallouractions。“
Theabbewasdeeplytouchedashewatchedthetearsrolldownherpallidface。Thehigherhersenseofsecurityhadbeen，thelowershewasnowtofall。
“But，“shesaid，continuing，“ifIreturntomyorphanedcondition，I
shallknowhowtotakeupitsfeelings。Afterall，couldIhavetiedamill-stoneroundtheneckofhimIlove？Whatcanhedohere？WhoamI
tobindhimtome？Besides，doInotlovehimwithafriendshipsodivinethatIcanbearthelossofmyownhappinessandmyhopes？YouknowIhaveoftenblamedmyselfforlettingmyhopesrestuponagrave，andforknowingtheywerewaitingonthatpooroldlady’sdeath。IfSavinienisrichandhappywithanotherIhaveenoughtopayformyentrancetoaconvent，whereIshallgoatonce。Therecannomorebetwolovesinawoman’sheartthantherecanbetwomastersinheaven，andthelifeofareligiousisattractivetome。“