f a newly…risen sun； the hour of worldly wisdom and of scheming struck for Lucien。
Down once more in L'Houmeau he wished that he had not written that letter； he wished he could have it back again； for down the vista of the future he caught a glimpse of the inexorable laws of the world。 He guessed that nothing succeeds like success； and it cost him something to step down from the first rung of the scaling ladder by which he meant to reach and storm the heights above。 Pictures of his quiet and simple life rose before him； pictures fair with the brightest colors of blossoming love。 There was David； what a genius David hadDavid who had helped him so generously； and would die for him at need； he thought of his mother； of how great a lady she was in her lowly lot； and how she thought that he was as good as he was clever； then of his sister so gracious in submission to her fate； of his own innocent childhood and conscience as yet unstained； of budding hopes undespoiled by rough winds； and at these thoughts the past broke into flowers once more for his memory。
Then he told himself that it was a far finer thing to hew his own way through serried hostile mobs of aristocrats or philistines by repeated successful strokes； than to reach the goal through a woman's favor。 Sooner or later his genius should shine out； it had been so with the others； his predecessors； they had tamed society。 Women would love him when that day came！ The example of Napoleon； which； unluckily for this nineteenth century of ours； has filled a great many ordinary persons with aspirations after extraordinary destinies；the example of Napoleon occurred to Lucien's mind。 He flung his schemes to the winds and blamed himself for thinking of them。 For Lucien was so made that he went from evil to good； or from good to evil； with the same facility。
Lucien had none of the scholar's love for his retreat； for the past month indeed he had felt something like shame at the sight of the shop front； where you could read
POSTEL （LATE CHARDON）； PHARMACEUTICAL CHEMIST；
in yellow letters on a green ground。 It was an offence to him that his father's name should be thus posted up in a place where every carriage passed。
Every evening； when he closed the ugly iron gate and went up to Beaulieu to give his arm to Mme。 de Bargeton among the dandies of the upper town； he chafed beyond all reason at the disparity between his lodging and his fortune。
〃I love Mme。 de Bargeton； perhaps in a few days she will be mine； yet here I live in this rat…hole！〃 he said to himself this evening； as he went down the narrow passage into the little yard behind the shop。 This evening bundles of boiled herbs were spread out along the wall； the apprentice was scouring a caldron； and M。 Postel himself； girded about with his laboratory apron； was standing with a retort in his hand； inspecting some chemical product while keeping an eye upon the shop door； or if the eye happened to be engaged； he had at any rate an ear for the bell。
A strong scent of camomile and peppermint pervaded the yard and the poor little dwelling at the side； which you reached by a short ladder； with a rope on either side by way of hand…rail。 Lucien's room was an attic just under the roof。
〃Good…day； sonny；〃 said M。 Postel； that typical； provincial tradesman。 〃Are you pretty middling？ I have just been experimenting on treacle； but it would take a man like your father to find what I am looking for。 Ah！ he was a famous chemist； he was！ If I had only known his gout specific； you and I should be rolling along in our carriage this day。〃
The little druggist； whose head was as thick as his heart was kind； never let a week pass without some allusion to Chardon senior's unlucky secretiveness as to that discovery； words that Lucien felt like a stab。
〃It is a great pity；〃 Lucien answered curtly。 He was beginning to think his father's apprentice prodigiously vulgar； though he had blessed the man for his kindness； for honest Postel had helped his master's widow and children more than once。
〃Why； what is the matter with you？〃 M。 Postel inquired； putting down his test tube on the laboratory table。
〃Is there a letter for me？〃
〃Yes； a letter that smells like balm！ it is lying on the corner near my desk。〃
Mme。 de Bargeton's letter lying among the physic bottles in a druggist's shop！ Lucien sprang in to rescue it。
〃Be quick； Lucien！ your dinner has been waiting an hour for you； it will be cold！〃 a sweet voice called gently through a half…opened window； but Lucien did not hear。
〃That brother of yours has gone crazy； mademoiselle；〃 said Postel； lifting his face。
The old bachelor looked rather like a miniature brandy cask； embellished by a painter's fancy； with a fat； ruddy countenance much pitted with the smallpox； at the sight of Eve his face took a ceremonious and amiable expression； which said plainly that he had thoughts of espousing the daughter of his predecessor； but could not put an end to the strife between love and interest in his heart。 He often said to Lucien； with a smile； 〃Your sister is uncommonly pretty； and you are not so bad looking neither！ Your father did everything well。〃
Eve was tall； dark…haired； dark of complexion； and blue…eyed； but notwithstanding these signs of virile character； she was gentle； tender…hearted； and devoted to those she loved。 Her frank innocence； her simplicity； her quiet acceptance of a hard…working life； her characterfor her life was above reproachcould not fail to win David Sechard's heart。 So； since the first time that these two had met； a repressed and single…hearted love had grown up between them in the German fashion； quietly； with no fervid protestations。 In their secret souls they thought of each other as if there were a bar between that kept them apart； as if the thought were an offence against some jealous husband； and hid their feelings from Lucien as though their love in some way did him a wrong。 David； moreover； had no confidence in himself； and could not believe that Eve could care for him； Eve was a penniless girl； and therefore shy。 A real work…girl would have been bolder； but Eve； gently bred； and fallen into poverty； resigned herself to her dreary lot。 Diffident as she seemed； she was in reality proud； and would not make a single advance towards the son of a father said to be rich。 People who knew the value of a growing property； said that the vineyard at Marsac was worth more than eighty thousand francs； to say nothing of the traditional bits of land which old Sechard used to buy as they came into the market； for old Sechard had savingshe was lucky with his vintages； and a clever salesman。 Perhaps David was the only man in Angouleme who knew nothing of his father's wealth。 In David's eyes Marsac was a hovel bought in 1810 for fifteen or sixteen thousand francs； a place that he saw once a year at vintage time when his father walked him up and down among the vines and boasted of an output of wine which the young printer never saw； and he cared nothing about it。
David was a student leading a solitary life； and the love that gained even greater force in solitude； as he dwelt upon the difficulties in the way； was timid； and looked for encouragement； for David stood more in awe of Eve than a simple clerk of some high…born lady。 He was awkward and ill at ease in the presence of his idol； and as eager to hurry away as he had been to come。 He repressed his passion； and was silent。 Often of an evening； on some pretext of consulting Lucien； he would leave the Place du Murier and go down through the Palet Gate as far as L'Houmeau； but at the sight of the green iron railings his heart failed。 Perhaps he had come too late； Eve might think him a nuisance； she would be in bed by this time no doubt； and so he turned back。 But though his great love had only appeared in trifles； Eve read it clearly； she was proud； without a touch of vanity in her pride； of the deep reverence in David's looks and words and manner towards her； but it was the young printer's enthusiastic belief in Lucien that drew her to him most of all。 He had divined the way to win Eve。 The mute delights of this love of theirs differed from the transports of stormy passion； as wildflowers in the fields from the brilliant flowers in garden beds。 Interchange of glances； delicate and sweet as blue water… flowers on the surface of the stream； a look in either face； vanishing as swiftly as the scent of briar…rose； melancholy； tender as the velvet of mossthese were the blossoms of two rare natures； springing up out of a rich and fruitful soil on foundations of rock。 Many a time Eve had seen revelations of the strength that lay below the appearance of weakness； and made such full allowance for all that David left undone； that the slightest word now might bring about a closer union of soul and soul。
Eve opened the door； and Lucien sat down without a word at the little table on an X…shaped trestle。 There was no tablecloth； the poor little household boasted but three silver spoons and forks； and Eve had laid them all for the dearly loved brother。
〃What have you there？〃 she asked； when she had set a dish on the table； and put the extinguisher on the portable stove； where it had been kept hot for him。
Lucien did not answer。 Eve took up a little plate； daintily garnished with vine…leaves； and set it on the table with a jug full of cream。
〃There； Lucien； I have had strawberries for you。〃
But Lucien was so absorbed in his letter that he did not hear a word。 Eve came to sit beside him without a murmur； for in a sister's love for a brother it is an element of great pleasure to be treated without ceremony。
〃Oh！ what is it？〃 she cried as she saw tears shining in her brother's eyes。
〃Nothing； nothing； Eve；〃 he said； and putting his arm about her waist； he drew her towards him and kissed her forehead； her hair； her throat； with warmth that surprised her。
〃You are keeping something from me。〃
〃Well； thenshe loves me。〃
〃I knew very well that you kissed me for somebody else；〃 the poor sister pouted； flushing red。
〃We shall all be happy；〃 cried Lucien； swallowing great spoonfuls of soup。
〃WE？〃 echoed Eve。 The same presentiment that had crossed David's mind prompted her to add； 〃You will not care so much