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should be Marie Campan。 She had been cruel； she acknowledged it。
But at such a crisis was it not defensible？ And then the recompense
should be so full！
But there was one other meeting that night； very short indeed； but
not the less significant。 Not long after they had all separated；
just so long as to allow of the house being quiet； Adolphe； still
sitting in his room； meditating on what the day had done for him；
heard a low tap at his door。 〃Come in；〃 he said； as men always do
say； and Marie opening the door； stood just within the verge of his
chamber。 She had on her countenance neither the soft look of
entreating love which she had worn up there in the grotto； nor did
she appear crushed and subdued as she had done before his mother。
She carried her head somewhat more erect than usual； and looked
boldly out at him from under her soft eyelashes。 There might still
be love there； but it was love proudly resolving to quell itself。
Adolphe； as he looked at her； felt that he was afraid of her。
〃It is all over then between us； M。 Adolphe？〃 she said。
〃Well； yes。 Don't you think it had better be so； eh； Marie？〃
〃And this is the meaning of oaths and vows； sworn to each other so
sacredly？〃
〃But； Marie； you heard what my mother said。〃
〃Oh； sir！ I have not come to ask you again to love me。 Oh no！ I am
not thinking of that。 But this； this would be a lie if I kept it
now； it would choke me if I wore it as that man's wife。 Take it
back；〃 and she tendered to him the little charm which she had always
worn round her neck since he had given it to her。 He took it
abstractedly； without thinking what he did； and placed it on his
dressing…table。
〃And you；〃 she continued； 〃can you still keep that cross？ Oh； no！
you must give me back that。 It would remind you too often of vows
that were untrue。〃
〃Marie；〃 he said； 〃do not be so harsh to me。〃
〃Harsh！〃 said she； 〃no； there has been enough of harshness。 I would
not be harsh to you； Adolphe。 But give me the cross； it would prove
a curse to you if you kept it。〃
He then opened a little box which stood upon the table； and taking
out the cross gave it to her。
〃And now good…bye；〃 she said。 〃We shall have but little more to say
to each other。 I know this now； that I was wrong ever to have loved
you。 I should have been to you as one of the other poor girls in the
house。 But； oh！ how was I to help it？〃 To this he made no answer；
and she； closing the door softly； went back to her chamber。 And thus
ended the first day of Adolphe Bauche's return to his own house。
On the next morning the capitaine and Marie were formally betrothed。
This was done with some little ceremony； in the presence of all the
guests who were staying at the establishment； and with all manner of
gracious acknowledgments of Marie's virtues。 It seemed as though La
Mere Bauche could not be courteous enough to her。 There was no more
talk of her being a child of charity； no more allusion now to the
gutter。 La Mere Bauche with her own hand brought her cake with a
glass of wine after her betrothal was over； and patted her on the
cheek； and called her her dear little Marie Campan。 And then the
capitaine was made up of infinite politeness； and the guests all
wished her joy； and the servants of the house began to perceive that
she was a person entitled to respect。 How different was all this
from that harsh attack that was made on her the preceding evening！
Only Adolphe；he alone kept aloof。 Though he was present there he
said nothing。 He； and he only； offered no congratulations。
In the midst of all these gala doings Marie herself said little or
nothing。 La Mere Bauche perceived this； but she forgave it。 Angrily
as she had expressed herself at the idea of Marie's daring to love
her son； she had still acknowledged within her own heart that such
love had been natural。 She could feel no pity for Marie as long as
Adolphe was in danger； but now she knew how to pity her。 So Marie
was still petted and still encouraged； though she went through the
day's work sullenly and in silence。
As to the capitaine it was all one to him。 He was a man of the
world。 He did not expect that he should really be preferred； con
amore； to a young fellow like Adolphe。 But he did expect that Marie；
like other girls； would do as she was bid； and that in a few days she
would regain her temper and be reconciled to her life。
And then the marriage was fixed for a very early day； for as La Mere
said； 〃What was the use of waiting？ All their minds were made up
now； and therefore the sooner the two were married the better。 Did
not the capitaine think so？〃
The capitaine said that he did think so。
And then Marie was asked。 It was all one to her； she said。 Whatever
Maman Bauche liked； that she would do； only she would not name a day
herself。 Indeed she would neither do nor say anything herself which
tended in any way to a furtherance of these matrimonials。 But then
she acquiesced； quietly enough if not readily； in what other people
did and said； and so the marriage was fixed for the day week after
Adolphe's return。
The whole of that week passed much in the same way。 The servants
about the place spoke among themselves of Marie's perverseness；
obstinacy； and ingratitude； because she would not look pleased； or
answer Madame Bauche's courtesies with gratitude； but La Mere herself
showed no signs of anger。 Marie had yielded to her； and she required
no more。 And she remembered also the harsh words she had used to
gain her purpose； and she reflected on all that Marie had lost。 On
these accounts she was forbearing and exacted nothingnothing but
that one sacrifice which was to be made in accordance to her wishes。
And it was made。 They were married in the great salon； the dining…
room； immediately after breakfast。 Madame Bauche was dressed in a
new puce silk dress； and looked very magnificent on the occasion。
She simpered and smiled； and looked gay even in spite of her
spectacles； and as the ceremony was being performed； she held fast
clutched in her hand the gold watch and chain which were intended for
Marie as soon as ever the marriage should be completed。
The capitaine was dressed exactly as usual； only that all his clothes
were new。 Madame Bauche had endeavoured to persuade him to wear a
blue coat； but he answered that such a change would not； he was sure；
be to Marie's taste。 To tell the truth； Marie would hardly have
known the difference had he presented himself in scarlet vestments。
Adolphe； however； was dressed very finely； but he did not make
himself prominent on the occasion。 Marie watched him closely； though
none saw that she did so； and of his garments she could have given an
account with much accuracyof his garments； ay！ and of every look。
〃Is he a man；〃 she said at last to herself； 〃that he can stand by and
see all this？〃
She too was dressed in silk。 They had put on her what they pleased；
and she bore the burden of her wedding finery without complaint and
without pride。 There was no blush on her face as she walked up to
the table at which the priest stood； nor hesitation in her low voice
as she