Page:The Bohemians of the Latin Quarter.djvu/313

them eagerly to the accompaniment of that ringing laugh which seemed the burden of her constant mirth. Jacques thought of the Bible, and thought that we should never despair as regards any woman, and still less as regards those who love apples. He took another turn round the garden with the pink bonnet, and it is thus that arriving at the ball alone he did not return from it so.

However, Jacques had not forgotten Francine; bearing in mind Rodolphe’s words he kissed her daily on Marie’s lips, and wrought in secret at the figure he wished to place on the dead girl’s grave.

One day when he received some money Jacques bought a dress for Marie—a black dress. The girl was pleased, only she thought that black was not very lively for summer wear. But Jacques told her that he was very fond of black, and that she would please him by wearing this dress every day. Marie obeyed.

One Saturday Jacques said to her:

“Come early to-morrow; we will go into the country.”

“How nice! ” said Marie; “I am preparing a surprise for you. You shall see. It will be sunshiny to-morrow.”

Marie spent the night at home finishing a new dress that she had bought out of her savings—a pretty pink dress. And on Sunday she arrived clad in her smart purchase at Jacques’s studio.

The artist received her coldly, almost brutally.

“I thought I should please you by making this bright toilette,” said Marie, who could not understand his coolness.

“We cannot go into the country to-day,” replied he; “you had better be off. I have some work to-day.”

Marie went home with a full heart. On the way she met a young man who was acquainted with Jacques’s story, and who had also paid court to herself.