said. "But, my dear child, you must remember that you are poor, and that
you have not a penny for your marriage-portion. How can you, then, for a
moment dream of a prince? Are you, then, so desirous to marry a prince?"

"Why should not I wish to marry such a man?" And she looked quite
amazed, as she continued: "Marry him? Of course I would do so. Since he
would have plenty of money, what difference would it make if I had none?
I should owe everything to him, and on that very account I should love
him all the more deeply."

This victorious reasoning enchanted Hubert, who seemed carried above the
earth by Angelique's enthusiasm. He would willingly have accompanied her
on the wings of a cloud to the regions of fancy.

"She is right," he exclaimed.

But his wife glanced at him reprovingly. She became quite stern.

"My child, you will think differently later on, when you know life
better."

"Life?--but I know it already."

"How is it possible for you to know it? You are too young; you are
ignorant of evil. Yet evil exists and is very powerful."

"Evil--evil?"

Angelique repeated the word very slowly, as if to penetrate its meaning.
And in her pure eyes was a look of innocent surprise. Evil? She knew all