"Heaven forbid," Valentine hastily added. "Tomorrow there will be time enough." "Well, let us go after them," proposed the doctor, "what do you say to closing this eventful day with a dance?" "Are we not better here," replied Valentine, "we do not know your friends, and would greatly prefer remaining another hour under your hospitable roof if you will permit us to do so. Is it not so Eugénie?" She nodded. The old gentleman then rubbed his hands delightedly, and declared that he had not felt so pleased for many a year. He sent the maid into the cellar and the larder and made her bring all that was to be found in the house, in spite of the entreaties of his visitors not to make so much ado for them. When they were at last sitting gaily and comfortably together, the doctor exclaimed with a look of satisfaction: "Now if the girls but knew what they have missed by their disobedience!" Valentine smilingly looked at Eugénie who had now completely recovered her usual calm demeanour and gave with composure her opinion on the subject of the future arrangement of their life, which Valentine had proposed, and played her part admirably. When the clock struck ten, she arose. "I am afraid, we can await your daughters no longer;" she said, "to-morrow, when they have rested after their dancing we will return." "I will not detain you," replied the doctor, "for I verily believe that they will not come home, till I go and fetch them myself. That is the way they treat their old father. I will forgive them, however, this time an account of the pleasure they have procured me of having your society all to myself. But I rely on your promise to return to-morrow, and perhaps, you will understand my paternal weakness when you see these naughty daughters of mine." So they all set forth; the doctor had insisted on accompanying them to the door of the hotel; there he left them, and they silently followed the waiter who carried the light before them. He opened two adjoining rooms and after wishing them good night disappeared. Valentine stretched out his hand to Eugénie. She pressed it, and said calmly, looking up at him, "Good night to you, my dear friend, sleep well, and au revoir to-morrow." Then she entered her room and closed the door behind her. After remaining quiet for some time he knocked gently at the door which separated the two rooms. "Eugénie," he whispered. "What do you want?" she asked. "Your good night of before, was against our treaty." "Against what treaty?" "That which we solemnly ratified with the doctor's new wine." "I think we have had enough of this acting I only agreed to the pledge because I thought it lay in my part." "Can we not continue in earnest, what we began in jest. At all events it was a solemn vow made before witnesses." "Well, then I will make up for it to-morrow morning, and now once more good night." But no movement showed that she had turned from the door. So after a pause Valentine began again,