"You cannot imagine how much I am suffering. You have destroyed all my joy!"
"My dear, I did not know about your love!"
"And I—I have not the courage to destroy yours...."
Lucienne threw her arms round his neck.
"How generous you are, Jean! How good you are!"
He put her away from him, and said sadly:
"Not so generous as you imagine, Lucienne, for that would be to show myself very weak. No; I do not approve of your decision. I have no confidence in your happiness...."
"But at least you will leave me free? You will not go against me? You will help me against mamma?"
"Yes, since you have gone so far, and since our father has given his consent, and since our mother's opposition might only cause still greater unhappiness...."
"You are right, Jean. Greater unhappiness, for father told me that——"