"No." Jacqueline went on shaking her head decisively. "But I couldn't be."
"I should not have thought it possible, either. Life teaches one to be able to do many things."
"Oh! But I don't want to learn," protested Jacqueline anxiously. "I want to be happy in the way I want."
"You would find it very hard to say how!"
"I know quite well what I want."
She wanted many things. But when it came to saying what they were, she could only mention one, which recurred again and again, like a refrain:
"First of all, I want some one to love me."
Marthe went on sewing without a word. After a moment she said:
"What good will it be to you if you do not love?"
Jacqueline was taken aback, and exclaimed:
"But, aunt, of course I only mean some one I loved! All the rest don't count."