"The blessed box, two sous." When she recognized the young woman, she stopped short and forgot her sales. "_Primavera_!" (Spring!), she said. Elizabeth, touched and comforted by this spontaneous admiration, gave her a little piece of silver. But she shook her head--For her, there was no more spring. II PHILIPPE LAGIER'S MYSTERIOUS JOURNEY Two or three days after Palm Sunday, Philippe Lagier, during a visit to M. Molay-Norrois, learned that the doctor had prescribed absolute rest for Elizabeth, and considering her to be, if not in actual danger--at any rate, in a serious state of decline which he must check at all costs, had her under his close observation. He hesitated as to what he should do then decided to let Albert know. Instead of receiving the answer he expected, he saw his friend come to his house. That was an indication of very keen anxiety. He had not been wrong in keeping up the young wife's hope: what unselfishness friendship demanded! Albert, through his intermediary, begged, in the interests of his children, that she would grant him an interview, which she refused. Her illness, depressing her, made her less accessible to any attempt of reconciliation. "Is he free?" she had asked. And, as she could not be answered in the affirmative, of what benefit would be this meeting, which would only be painful, and could not, in any way, modify their respective positions? Did not their discretion consist in remaining apart? Thus set aside, he begged her to accept his help. A change of air would do her good, would be good for Marie Louise and her brother. When Philippe brought him another refusal, he flew into a passion, which terrified his friend, who tried in vain to keep him within bounds. Did he not speak of taking up the suit again, of claiming his paternal rights, of again suing for divorce? On the following day, he acted on his own behalf. It was cruel and yet good for him. He went to the Saint-Roch cemetery where his parents, whom death had not separated, were lying side by side;--to the city park, where he wandered a long time watching the children at play, not knowing that his own were invited to Blanche Vernier's house; and to the Rue Haxo to look at the closed windows. Rejected everywhere, out of favor with fate, he wandered about Grenoble like a stranger, who has seen all the sights and does not know what to do. Before leaving, he excused himself to Philippe. "I was wrong yesterday, you must understand me--I am sowing only suffering and evil about me--And it is unavoidable: I can do nothing for it. It is better for me never to return. You will come to see me in Paris?" "I shall," said Philippe, "but what have you decided?" "Nothing!" "You will remain like this--without an official separation?" "Yes. I promised my mother that I would never seek a divorce against Elizabeth's wish, and Anne despises our laws."