Blanche fastened her kerchief, and Urbain, still moved by what he had seen, sighed deeply. "What is the matter with you," said the young girl, looking with interest at her whom she believed to be a simple country girl. "You seem grieved." "Alas, mademoiselle! I was remembering that I was alone and without resources in this city, that I have no parents, no friends." "Poor girl! Well, we will be your friends. Yes, I feel that I love you already, Ursule." "Can it be mademoiselle? Ah! if it were only true!" "Why do you say if it were true? I never say what is untrue; but what I feel I say at once. Isn't that natural? And do you think that you can love me also?" "Can I love you," said Urbain, warmly; then remembering that Marguerite was there, he resumed less forcibly, but with an accent that came from his heart,-- "Yes, yes, mademoiselle, and all my life." "Oh, it is so nice to have a friend of one's own age," said Blanche, shaking the bachelor's hand. "At least I shall have some one with whom I can laugh and chat. Marguerite likes to talk very well, but she never laughs and then she never talks of anything but magic and the devil. We shall find other things to talk about, shan't we, Ursule?" "Yes, mademoiselle." "I know very little about anything; always alone in my room, never going out, though I have a great desire to do so; my protector never comes to chat with me; I receive visits from one man only." "From a man?" said Urbain, anxiously. "Yes, my music master. Formerly he made me laugh, now he wearies me, for he always sings the same thing to me." Urbain breathed more freely, and resumed,-- "You sing, mademoiselle?" "A little," said Blanche, "and do you sing, Ursule?" "Sometimes." "That's better still. You shall teach me the songs of your country and I will teach you the ones that I know." "You will let me come to see you again, then, mademoiselle?" "Certainly, every evening, if you can. Remember that I am very lonely by myself, in place of which I shall amuse myself with you. She can come to see us every evening, Marguerite, can't she? M. Touquet won't be angry, will he?" Marguerite during this conversation had remained in meditation and in ecstasy before Ursule's talisman. She would have given all the world to possess it in her new room, where she had much trouble in going to sleep, but the name of her master drew her from these reflections and she cried,-- "What are you saying about M. Touquet; that he knows we are receiving this young girl without his permission? Oh, no, indeed!" "But, dear nurse, that's why it is necessary to ask him." "Ah, mademoiselle," said Urbain, "he will refuse it, and I shall be deprived of the pleasure of seeing you." "In that case we will say nothing; but if he would take you into his service?" "Monsieur does not wish to have anybody else in the house. What could Ursule do here?"