“‘They are right if the thing required appears to be a sacrifice!’ replied she pointedly.
“‘Instead of sacrifices, say efforts and——’
“‘It would be an impertinence,’ said she.
“‘Forgive me,’ said I. ‘I forget that woman and the Pope are infallible.’
“‘Good heavens!’ said she after a long pause, ‘only two words would be enough to destroy the peace so dearly bought, and which I enjoy like a fraud——’
“She rose and paid no further heed to me.
“‘Where can I go?’ she said. ‘What is to become of me?—Must I leave this quiet retreat, that I had arranged with such care to end my days in?’
“‘To end your days!’ exclaimed I with visible alarm. ‘Has it never struck you that a time would come when you could no longer work, when competition will lower the price of flowers and articles of fashion——?’
“‘I have already saved a thousand crowns,’ she said.
“‘Heavens! what privations such a sum must represent!’ I exclaimed.