"Mon Dieu! what an extraordinary resemblance there is between us! Both orphans; both hardly knew our parents—we are in the same situation."
"Oh! no, mademoiselle; you are much more fortunate!"
"Yes, of course; because I have this wardrobe and this little desk."
Paul made no reply, but turned his head away and wiped his eyes.
"What a stupid creature I am!" cried Elina; "to talk of things that make you sad! Come, let us go to work; we have none too much time. I have the key of our new lodgings; it's the door on the opposite side of the landing; I'll go and open it."
While the girl went to open the door, Paul took down the bed, being careful to make as little noise as possible; then he began to move the furniture into the new lodgings.
Elina pointed out a little loft, which was reached from a small, square room.
"That's my bedroom," she said. "It seems that I shan't have any too much light up there. However, my aunt says that one doesn't need to see in order to go to bed."
"Your aunt is far from kind to you, mademoiselle; and yet she cannot have any fault to find with you."
"Oh! Monsieur Paul, aunts don't think as one's—friends do. They always find some reason for scolding. Wait; there's a ladder to climb up to my new room; let me fix it firmly."