‘My poor Eugene! we must part.’

Part?  It seemed as if the sun was suddenly blotted from the heavens.

I started up, and looked at him with a face so white and terror-stricken that he came up to me and laid his hand kindly on my shoulder.

‘My poor Eugene!’ he repeated, ‘it is too true—­we must part.’

I tried to speak.  ‘Part!’ I cried.  ‘O my master—­’

Tears and sobs choked my utterance, in spite of all my efforts to restrain them.  I sat down again, and gave free vent to my irrepressible grief.

My master was much affected by the sight of my emotion; and for some minutes the silence was unbroken, save by my heart-wrung sobs.

‘Nay, Eugene, this is womanish; bear it like a man,’ said he, wiping the tears from his own eyes.  ’Most gladly would I spare you this sorrow; most gladly retain you near me; but in this matter I am powerless.  I have received an appointment from government, to travel in Northern Asia, in order to study the dialects of that vast region.  Every individual who is to accompany me has been officially specified, and there is no place left for my poor Eugene.’

‘O my dear, dear master!’ cried I, with clasped hands and streaming eyes, ’take me with you—­I shall die if you, leave me—­put me in the place of some one else.’

‘Impossible,’ said he.  ’The government has filled up every place with its own creatures—­except,’ he added, with a faint smile, ’that they have left provision for my wife—­if married.  I would I had the wand of an enchanter, Eugene, that I might transform you to a woman, and make you my wife.’

His wife! his wife!  Had I heard the words aright?  I sprang to my feet.  I tried to say, ‘I am a woman—­I will be your wife!’ but my tongue refused its utterance—­there was a rushing sound in my ears—­I grasped the air wildly—­I heard my master cry, ‘Eugene!  Eugene!’ as he rushed forward to support me, and the next moment I lost consciousness.

* * * * *

When I recovered my senses, I was still in the arms of my master.  He had borne me to the window, and torn open my vest and shirt-collar.  I looked up in his face.  One glance revealed to me that my secret was discovered.

Blushing and trembling, I tried to raise myself from his arms; but he held me fast.

‘Eugene,’ said he, in earnest tones, ’tell me the truth.  Are you indeed a woman?’

’I am.  My name is Eugenie D——­, O my dear master! forgive the deception I have practiced.  Do not despise me.’

‘Eugenie!’ cried he, in joyful accents, ’you shall go with me to the East!  You shall go as my wife!  Vive I’ Empereur!

‘But wherefore this disguise?’ he added.

I told him my story in few words; and informed him that I was that very young woman who had applied to him for the office I now held.

‘Is it possible?’ exclaimed he.  ’But, Eugenie, tell me—­do you really love me as you have so often protested you did?’