"Quick," said her mother, her finger to her lips. "Your father is
waiting for us, ready to go out."

Esperance seized her hat and coat quickly and ran to join her father.
He was sitting as if thinking, his head resting in his hands. She
understood the struggle between love and reason in his soul, and her
upright little soul suffered with his. Bending gently beside him she
murmured, "Do not be unhappy, papa. You know that I can never suffer
as long as I have you two. If I am quite mistaken, if life doesn't
bring me any of the things that I expect, I shall find comfort in your
love."

Francois Darbois raised his head and looked deep into the lovely eyes,
"God keep you, my little daughter!"

Next morning Esperance was ready to go to the Conservatoire long
before the appointed hour. M. Darbois was already in his study with
one of his pupils, so she ran to her mother's room and found her busy
with some papers.

"You have my birth certificate?"

"Yes, yes."

"And papa's written consent?"

"Yes, yes," sighed Madame Darbois.

"He hesitated to give it to you?"