so much of the spirit of a man that he was minded to hold his head well up before the girl whom he wishe

ow, that Madame Voss was troubled in spirit, and that Marie dispensed her soup without vouchsafing a look to any one, he felt that it behoved him to do his best, and he did it. He talked freely to Madame Voss, telling her the news from Basle,-how at length he thought the French trade was reviving, and how all the Swiss authorities were still opposed to the German occupation of Alsace; and how flax was likely to be dearer than ever he had seen it; and how the travelling English were fewer this year than usual, to the great detriment of the innkeepers. Every now and then he would say a word to Marie herself, as she passed near him, speaking in a cheery t

tle of his best Burgundy in honour of the occasion. When they had eaten their fruit, Madame Voss left the room,

wonder that she should be put out o

itor had gone to his chamber. There were many things about the house which it was her custom to see in their place before she went to her rest, and nobody should say that she neglected her work because of this dressed-up doll; but

promise. Hitherto she certainly had not tried. Hitherto she had been ill-tempered, petulant, and almost rude. He would not see her himself this evening, but he would send a me

is flurried,' s

ad she been my own, I could not have been kinder. I have loved her just

mean to be und

and she promised me that she would do her best to entertain the man. Now she receives him and me with an old frock and a sulky face. Who pays for her clothes? She has ev

hink I can understand why she

fool. What is it she wants, I wonder? What is it she expects?

ink she expects no

conceive what it is that she wants. I can't indeed.' It was perhaps the fault of Michel Voss that he could not understand that a young woman should

her elbow on the table, while the children were asleep around her. She was waiting till the house should be quiet, so that she could go down and complet

that to-ni

ere not put straight. Everything is about the house everywhere. We need

, Marie. I want to speak to you. Your uncle won't be up yet.' Then she led th

I done anything t

so cross to t

he same as I always do. If Uncle Michel wants

at you ought to obey him. You gave him a sort of a p

promise,' sai

m that you would at any r

been civil,'

not speak

talking to the people. How would the things go, if I took to talking to the people, an

his power. He wants to treat you ju

were his daughter he would not grudge me permission to stop at home

ime that you should be

any other settlement,-if t

t pause, 'I sometimes think that you s

that makes my uncle go on

t answer m

ly spoke to him. If Uncle Michel is afraid of me, I will give him

ver come back for yo

ny one say that I have done anything to bring him to me? If so, it is false, whoever says it. I have done nothing. He

of passion, and her aunt was almost subdued by

will let me alone, I wi

would wish to be

d him, I would take him, but I don't. O, Au

must know best what is good for you. There can be no reason against M. Urmand, and if you persis

said Marie, as she left the r

In the performance of her daily duty there were entries to be made and figures to be adjusted, which would have been done in the course of the evening, had it not been that she had been driven upstairs by fear of her lover and her uncle. But by the time that she took herself up to bed, nothing had been omitted. And after the book was closed she sat there, trying to resolve what she would do. Nothing had, perhaps, given her so sharp a pang as her aunt's assurance that George Voss would not come back to her, as her aunt's suspicion that she was looking for his

had almost made up her mind that it would be best for her to do as her uncle wished. As for loving t