”Forwhomareyoumakingthisprettything？”saidshe，takingupthemodelspraysofhydrangeainredwaxwhichWenceslashadlaiddownwhileeatingthefruit。”Forajeweler。””Forwhatjeweler？””Idonotknow。Stidmannaskedmetomakesomethingoutofthem，asheisverybusy。””Butthese，”shesaidinadeepvoice，”are/Hortensias/。Howisitthatyouhavenevermadeanythinginwaxforme？Isitsodifficulttodesignapin，alittlebox——whatnot，asakeepsake？”andsheshotafearfulglanceattheartist，whoseeyeswerehappilylowered。”Andyetyousayyouloveme？””Canyoudoubtit，mademoiselle？””Thatisindeedanardent/mademoiselle/！——Why，youhavebeenmyonlythoughtsinceIfoundyoudying——justthere。WhenIsavedyou，youvowedyouweremine，Imeantoholdyoutothatpledge；butImadeavowtomyself！Isaidtomyself，’Sincetheboysaysheismine，Imeantomakehimrichandhappy！’Well，andIcanmakeyourfortune。””How？”saidthehaplessartist，attheheightofjoy，andtooartlesstodreamofasnare。”Why，thus，”saidshe。
LisbethcouldnotdepriveherselfofthesavagepleasureofgazingatWenceslas，wholookedupatherwithfilialaffection，theexpressionreallyofhisloveforHortense，whichdeludedtheoldmaid。Seeinginaman’seyes，forthefirsttimeinherlife，theblazingtorchofpassion，shefancieditwasforherthatitwaslighted。”MonsieurCrevelwillbackustotheextentofahundredthousandfrancstostartinbusiness，if，ashesays，youwillmarryme。Hehasqueerideas，hastheworthyman——Well，whatdoyousaytoit？”sheadded。
Theartist，aspaleasthedead，lookedathisbenefactresswithalustrelesseye，whichplainlyspokehisthoughts。Hestoodstupefiedandopen-mouthed。”IneverbeforewassodistinctlytoldthatIamhideous，”saidshe，withabitterlaugh。”Mademoiselle，”saidSteinbock，”mybenefactresscanneverbeuglyinmyeyes；Ihavethegreatestaffectionforyou。ButIamnotyetthirty，and——””Iamforty-three，”saidLisbeth。”MycousinAdelineisforty-eight，andmenarestillmadlyinlovewithher；butthensheishandsome——
sheis！””Fifteenyearsbetweenus，mademoiselle！Howcouldwegetontogether！
ForbothoursakesIthinkweshouldbewisetothinkitover。Mygratitudeshallbefullyequaltoyourgreatkindness——Andyourmoneyshallberepaidinafewdays。””Mymoney！”criedshe。”YoutreatmeasifIwerenothingbutanunfeelingusurer。””Forgiveme，”saidWenceslas，”butyouremindmeofitsooften——