I could not face Jean Jacques' forgiveness.

To stay there, feeling that I must be always grateful, that I must be humble, that I must pretend, that I must kiss Jean Jacques, and lie in his arms, and go to mass and to confession, and--" "There is the child, there is Zoe--" "Oh, it is you that preaches now--you that tempted me, that said I was wasted at the Manor; that the parish did not understand me; that Jean Jacques did not know a jewel of price when he saw it--little did you think of Zoe then!" He made a protesting gesture.

"Maybe so, Carmen, but I think now before it is too late." "The child loves her father as she never loved me," she declared.

"She is twelve years old.

She will soon be old enough to keep house for him, and then to marry--ah, before there is time to think she will marry!" "It would be better then for you to wait till she marries before--before--" "Before I go away with you!" She gave a shrill, agonized laugh.