efforts to follow the Darbois.

Esperance opened her eyes and seeing beside her only her father and
mother, those two beings whom she loved so deeply, so tenderly, she
reached out her arms and drew close to her their beloved heads.
Maurice had slipped out very quietly. "Papa dearie, Mama beloved,
forgive me, it is not my fault," she sobbed.

"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?"