"Ah, papa!" cried Blanche in ecstasy. "It is the very thing I thought of, but I was afraid it was too much to ask you." "Now, when did I ever refuse you anything?" "But such an enormous favour!" "Not at all, not at all. I shall adapt myself to the arrangement well enough." "But, papa, it might get on your nerves in time." "Not at all, not at all. There is my study for me to retire to--I shall not see more of her than I want to." "You promise that?" "I can swear it." "Oh, it will be adorable! I only wonder if I am being selfish to let you do it." "I insist," said Vauquelin, with a noble gesture. "Say we entreat her to agree, that we shall be wounded if she declines. Say our flat is her home for as long as she will honour us--the longer, the better. _I_ will write a few lines to her, too. Be tranquil, my sweet child--I do not sacrifice myself. Is it not my highest joy to indulge you?" After many letters had been indited to her, mademoiselle Paumelle was prevailed upon to come; and after many remonstrances had been made to her, she ceased to speak of going. But for the fact that her gifts to the girl were expensive, it was as if she were a member of the family. Blanche was relieved to note that her papa was not driven to the seclusion of his study often; and never did he withdraw to it when Blanche was absent, to take her music-lesson. As he had predicted, Vauquelin adapted himself to the arrangement plastically. He approved it so much, especially the tête-à-tête during the music-lessons, that when six months had flashed by, he resented an incident which reminded him that it couldn't be permanent. A monsieur Brigard, an old comrade, arrived to advocate nothing less than that Blanche should espouse Brigard's boy. "My friend, I have other views for my daughter," replied Vauquelin firmly. But the arrival dejected him, in the knowledge that when Blanche should marry, Georgette would have to go. And in their next hour alone together, Georgette asked him what his worry was. "Nothing. I am a little--we must all think of the future, our children's future. A father has responsibilities." "À propos de--what? Am I inquisitive?" "Do I not confide everything to you? Some pest has made matrimonial overtures about his son. Preposterous." "The young man's position is not good enough?" "Ah, his position is first rate. I say nothing against his position." "It is his character that displeases you?" "No. As for that, he is steady, and not unamiable." "But what do you complain of?" Vauquelin waved his hand vaguely. "The proposal does not accord with my ideas. I have different intentions for her." "Ah, yes, that monsieur Daudenarde! I thought perhaps that affair had faded out."