Page:The Bohemians of the Latin Quarter.djvu/320

ten francs a yard. It is incredible, I must see it. I shall be back for dinner.

“Poor girl,” said Mareel, putting the letter in his pocket. And he remained for a short time pensive, his head resting on his hands.

At this period the Bohemians had been for some time in a state of widowhood, with the exception of Colline, whose sweetheart, however, had still remained invisible and anonymous.

Phémie herself, Schaunard’s amiable companion, had met with a simple soul who had offered her his heart, a suit of mahogany furniture, and a ring with his hair—red hair—in it. However, a fortnight after these gifts Phémie’s lover wanted to take back his heart and his furniture, because he noticed on looking at his mistress’s hands that she wore a ring set with hair, but black hair this time, and dared to suspect her of infidelity.

Yet Phémie had not ceased to be virtuous, only as her friends had chaffed her several times about her ring with red hair, she had had it dyed black. The gentleman was so pleased that he bought Phémie a silk dress; it was the first she had ever had. The day she put it on for the first time the poor girl exclaimed:

“Now I can die happy.”

As to Musette, she had once more become almost an official personage, and Marcel had not met her for three or four months. As to Mimi, Rodolphe had not heard her even mentioned, save by himself when alone.

“Hello!” suddenly exclaimed Rodolphe, seeing Marcel squatting dreamily beside the hearth, “won’t the fire light?”

“There you are,” said the painter, setting light to the wood, which began to crackle and flame.