She jumped for joy, then checked herself, because she thought that she ought not to let me see how delighted she was, but that it was incumbent on her to make some show of hesitation. "But, monsieur, I don't know whether I ought to accept." "What is there to prevent?" "What will people say?" "It seems to me that that ought not to worry you so much as your aunt; and as you are not afraid of making her angry, what do you care for what strangers may say?" "That's so, monsieur; it makes no difference at all to me; besides, several friends of mine have done it, and been no worse off for it." "Oh! there's no lack of examples. And so, my dear girl, be all ready at this time to-morrow night. I will come here for you. Make up a little bundle of whatever you need most, and I will take you to your room." "Well, as you insist upon it, until to-morrow! I'll be ready." "By the way, one more question. Who is that Monsieur Jules you were with at Tivoli?" "Oh! he's a very well-behaved young fellow, who takes me out to walk sometimes with my aunt." "I believe you; but even if he's a hundred times more well-behaved than you say, you must promise me not to receive him at your room, and not to go to walk with him any more." "Never fear; I know that I mustn't do that, and I don't mean to annoy you in any way." "You are a dear girl; so it's decided, is it?" "Yes; until to-morrow; it's late and I must go." I took an earnest of our bargain from Caroline's lips; and she hurried away, doubtless to prepare for the coming change in her situation. So I had arranged to keep Mademoiselle Caroline! The word had an ill sound in my ears; in general, it is understood to refer to those old libertines, ugly, stupid, and infirm, whom fortune alone has favored, and who obtain by the power of gold favors which others often have obtained without effort. Those men are rarely loved, and are almost always deceived; I myself had taken enjoyment at their expense; and I was going to keep Caroline! No, I was going to establish her in lodgings, that was all; I might perhaps make her a little present now and then, but she must continue to work; I had no inclination to gratify all her whims; therefore, I was her lover, not her keeper. We always endeavor to look at our own actions in the most favorable light; moreover, Caroline was really pretty; I had been sighing for her many days, and at last my hopes were to be fulfilled. I persuaded myself that she loved me, although I had detected nothing in her conduct to demonstrate it; but it is so pleasant to flatter one's self that one has aroused that sentiment! She was a flirt, but I would steady her; she would see no one but me, go out with no one but me; she would do whatever I desired, and she would be faithful to me; that is the way I arranged matters in my mind.