"But much. Jean has promised me that he will join the regiment. You can arrange that he shall be received and welcomed, and not discouraged. You can assure him protection, society, comrades—you have known him a long time. You can prevent his giving way to melancholy ideas, and stop him if he were again tempted to carry out such a plan."
The lieutenant, much disturbed, frowned, and the expression of his face changed at the last words. Then he said:
"Up to the first of October you have your son's promise—after that I will look after him."
Then speaking to himself, and again occupied with an idea, which he did not express entirely:
"Yes," he said, "very bad—it must not be."
Lucienne heard it.
"So much the worse," said she. "I betray my brother's secret, but he will forgive me when he knows that I betrayed him to calm mamma. You can be easy, mamma, Jean will not leave Alsace."
"Because?"
"He loves."
"Where then?"