"My dear girl, if your purpose in coming here is to divert my thoughts, you go about it very awkwardly. Monsieur Monleard is dead, because he preferred it so; he left me, because he chose to, without troubling himself overmuch as to what was to become of me; frankly, it was hardly worth while to marry me, just to act like this after only six months. He was responsible for my refusing a young man who, as it turns out, would have made me much happier--that poor Gustave, who loved me so dearly! For he really did love me, did Gustave, and, according to what you told me the other day, he is doing very well indeed now. Ten thousand francs a year, he earns, I believe?" Adolphine wiped her eyes and swallowed her tears, as she replied in a faltering voice: "Yes--I think so." "What! you think so? So you're not sure of it now?" "Why, yes; he told me so himself." "Very good! with ten thousand francs one can live comfortably enough. One can't have such a stable as I had with Monsieur Monleard; but it's better never to have a carriage than to have to give it up. In fact, I don't see why I should cry my eyes out for the dead man. In the first place, I despise men who kill themselves; everyone is entitled to his own opinion, but that's mine. A man should be able to endure the blows of destiny. Do you know where Gustave is now?" "No, I don't; he intended to leave Paris again." "That's strange. Formerly, he always told you where he was going; and now that I ask you, you don't know anything about him." "He said something about Germany, that's all I know." "On his uncle's business, I suppose?" "I think so." "Well, people don't travel forever; he'll return some time, poor Gustave! and we shall meet again. Ah! he had changed tremendously for the better when he came back from Spain; he had acquired ease of manner and refinement, hadn't he?" "I didn't notice." "Oh! how angry you make me!--It seems to me, however, that it's more interesting to talk about the living than the dead." "Everybody isn't consoled as quickly as you." "Do you propose to give me a lecture?" "No, sister; I meant simply that anyone was very fortunate to have such a temperament as yours." "My dear Adolphine, I have been a widow two months now, and I know a little something of the world. When you have had as much experience as I have, you will realize that you should be able to find consolation for anything." "I don't think I shall ever be as philosophical as you." Whenever the two sisters met, Fanny did not fail to lead the conversation to the subject of Gustave. That subject, although intensely interesting to Adolphine, was very painful to her when Fanny introduced it; but, being accustomed by long practice to conceal the secrets of her heart, to confine therein a sentiment which she dared not avow to anyone, Fanny's younger sister contrived to listen with apparent indifference to the project which Auguste's widow already had in contemplation.