“Leave us, my child,” he said to the girl, who went to the pagoda and sat upon the steps, after allowing Savinien to take her hand and kiss it respectfully.
“Monsieur, will you give this dear hand to a naval captain?” he said to the doctor in a low voice.
“No,” said Minoret, smiling; “we might have to wait too long, but—I will give her to a lieutenant.”
Tears of joy filled the young man’s eyes as he pressed the doctor’s hand affectionately.
“I am about to leave,” he said, “to study hard and try to learn in six months what the pupils of the Naval School take six years to acquire.”
“You are going?” said Ursula, springing towards them from the pavilion.
“Yes, mademoiselle, to deserve you. Therefore the more eager I am to go, the more I prove to you my affection.”
“This is the 3rd of October,” she said, looking at him with infinite tenderness; “do not go till after the 19th.”
“Yes,” said the old man, “we will celebrate Saint-Savinien’s day.”
“Good-by, then,” cried the young man. “I must spend this week in Paris, to take the preliminary steps, buy books and mathematical instruments, and try to conciliate the minister and get the best terms that I can for myself.”