A Parisian Romance — page 76: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

A PARISIAN ROMANCE. 67 “Do you know what Signor Juliani said to me to- night?” “What?” “He said it was a shame I did not sing in opera.” “Indeed !” “And that an engagement was open to me when- ever | wanted it. Oh!” she continued, with spark- ling eyes, “how I would like that—that is, if you were willing. Would you give your consent?” “No!” replied Henri, laughingly, but firmly. Marcelle laughed, too. “IT expected that reply,” she said “No, no, my dear, your proper surroundings are such scenes as to-night. Do you know, luxury, dress, laces, diamonds, become you so well, that really, my darling, I cannot imagine you poor.” “Nor canI! And yet I should be poor, if it were not for you.” “Not atall. If you had not met me, you would have continued to live with your aunt.” “Aunt Reine was certainly very good to me; she spoiled me, in fact. But once out of her house, once married, I must have been poor. Where could I have found another man as good and generous as you, with an unselfish heart like yours, to chose me in spite of my small fortune? For I had noth- ing, had I? Almost nothing?” “Oh, I beg your pardon,” he said, quickly. “You had a very—a very respectable dowry.” Marcelle was silent fora moment, and then she Gomicbooksrco im