"Don't cry, my child, now, not a tear," cried Darbois, bending over his little girl. "It is settled, you shall be…." and the word was lost in her little ear.
She went suddenly pink, and raising herself towards him, whispered her reply, "Oh! I thank you! How I love you both! Thank you! Thank you!"
CHAPTER II
Esperance, left alone with her mother, drank the tea this tender parent brought to her, and the look of health began to come back to her face.
"Then to-morrow, mother dearest, we must go and be registered for the examinations that are soon to be held at the Conservatoire."
"You want to go to-morrow?"
"Yes, to-day we must stay with papa, mustn't we? He is so kind!"
The two—mother and daughter—were silent a moment, occupied with the same tender thoughts.
"And now we will persuade him to go out with us, shan't we, mother dear?"
"That will be the very best thing for both of you," agreed Madame
Darbois, and she went to make her preparations.