"Really," answered Marie, smiling, "you do not think I am too fond a mother?"
"My reply is very short, madame. As it is always necessary to provide for things in the distance, I am going to write to Paris to-day to a reliable person who will watch for a convenient lodging opposite the school and engage it for us."
"Very easy kindness, really, to share with you the joy of being near our dear boy."
Marie remained silent a moment; then tears of gratitude filled her eyes and she said, with inexpressible emotion, as she turned toward David:
And her tearful eyes sought and met the eyes of David; for a long time they gazed at each other in silent, divine ecstasy. The door of the chamber opened and Marguerite said to the preceptor, with an air at the same time joyous and mysterious:
"M. David, will you come, if you please?"
"And my son," asked Marie, "where is he?"
"M. Frederick is busy, madame, very busy," replied Marguerite, exchanging a glance of intelligence with the preceptor, who was going out of the door.
"If madame will permit it," said Marguerite, "I will stay with her, in case she may need something."
"Ah, Marguerite, Marguerite," said the young wife, smiling and shaking her head, "they are plotting something here."
"Oh, I am very discerning! Since this morning, such goings and comings I have heard in the corridor, Frederick is absent during his study hour, and an unusual noise in the library; so you see--"
"Good! good! you are taking advantage of my condition," said Marie, smiling. "They all know that I cannot walk about and see myself what is happening out there."
"Well, Marguerite, I think it is a surprise."
"Come, my good Marguerite, tell me all about it, I beg you; then I shall be happier sooner, and so I shall be happier a longer time."
"Madame," said Marguerite, heroically, "that would be treason."
At that moment old André opened the door half-way, put his head in, looking very radiant and mysterious, and said to the servant:
"Marguerite, they want to know where is the thing that--that--"
"Ah, my God! he is going to say some foolishness; he never does anything else!" cried Marguerite, running to the door, where she conversed some moments with André in a low tone, after which she came back to her mistress, who said to her, smiling: