"Hewilltellyouallthetruth，——howitallis，"saidLaMere。"Wewilldoallwecan，youknow，tomakeyouhappy，Marie。ButyoumustrememberwhatMonsieurleCuretoldustheotherday。Inthisvaleoftearswecannothaveeverything；asweshallhavesomeday，whenourpoorwickedsoulshavebeenpurgedofalltheirwickedness。Nowgo，dear，andtakeyourcloak。"
"Yes，maman。"
"AndAdolphewillcometoyou。Andtryandbehavewell，likeasensiblegirl。"
"Yes，maman，"——andsoshewent，bearingonherbrowanothersacrificialkiss——andbearinginherheartsuchanunutterableloadofwoe！
Adolphehadgoneoutofthehousebeforeher；butstandinginthestableyard，wellwithinthegatesothatsheshouldnotseehim，hewatchedherslowlycrossingthebridgeandmountingthefirstflightofthesteps。Hehadoftenseenhertrippingupthosestairs，andhad，almostasoften，followedherwithhisquickerfeet。Andshe，whenshewouldhearhim，wouldrun；andthenhewouldcatchherbreathlessatthetop，andstealkissesfromherwhenallpowerofrefusingthemhadbeenrobbedfromherbyhereffortsatescape。
Therewasnosuchrunningnow，nosuchfollowing，nothoughtofsuchkisses。
Asforhim，hewouldfainhaveskulkedoffandshirkedtheinterviewhadhedared。Buthedidnotdare；sohewaitedthere，outofheart，forsometenminutes，speakingawordnowandthentothebath—man，whowasstandingby，justtoshowthathewasathisease。Butthebath—manknewthathewasnotathisease。Suchwould—beliesasthoserarelyachievedeception；——arerarelybelieved。Andthen，attheendofthetenminutes，withstepsasslowasMarie’shadbeen，healsoascendedtothegrotto。
Mariehadwatchedhimfromthetop，butsothatsheherselfshouldnotbeseen。Hehoweverhadnotoncelifteduphisheadtolookforher；butwitheyesturnedtothegroundhadploddedhiswayuptothecave。Whenheenteredshewasstandinginthemiddle，withhereyesdowncastandherhandsclaspedbeforeher。Shehadretiredsomewayfromthewall，sothatnoeyesmightpossiblyseeherbutthoseofherfalselover。Thereshestoodwhenheentered，strivingtostandmotionless，buttremblinglikealeafineverylimb。
Itwasonlywhenhereachedthetopstepthathemadeuphismindhowhewouldbehave。Perhapsafterall，thecapitainewasright；perhapsshewouldnotmindit。
"Marie，"saidhe，withavoicethatattemptedtobecheerful；"thisisanoddplacetomeetinaftersuchalongabsence，"andheheldouthishandtoher。Butonlyhishand！Heofferedhernosalute。
Hedidnotevenkisshercheekasabrotherwouldhavedone！OftherulesoftheoutsideworlditmustberememberedthatpoorMarieknewbutlittle。Hehadbeenabrothertoherbeforehehadbecomeherlover。
ButMarietookhishandsaying，"Yes，ithasbeenverylong。"
"AndnowthatIhavecomeback，"hewentontosay，"itseemsthatweareallinaconfusiontogether。Ineverknewsuchapieceofwork。
However，itisallforthebest，Isuppose。"
"Perhapsso，"saidMarie，stilltremblingviolently，andstilllookingupontheground。Andthentherewassilencebetweenthemforaminuteorso。
"Itellyouwhatitis，Marie，"saidAdolpheatlast，droppingherhandandmakingagreatefforttogetthroughtheworkbeforehim。
"Iamafraidwetwohavebeenveryfoolish。Don’tyouthinkwehavenow？Itseemsquiteclearthatwecannevergetourselvesmarried。
Don’tyouseeitinthatlight？"
Marie’sheadturnedroundandroundwithher，butshewasnotofthefaintingorder。Shetookthreestepsbackwardsandleantagainstthewallofthecave。Shealsowastryingtothinkhowshemightbestfightherbattle。Wastherenochanceforher？Couldnoeloquence，noloveprevail？Onherownbeautyshecountedbutlittle；butmightnotprayersdosomething，andareferencetothoseoldvowswhichhadbeensofrequent，soeager，sosolemnlypledgedbetweenthem？
"Nevergetourselvesmarried！"shesaid，repeatinghiswords。
"Never，Adolphe？Canweneverbemarried？"
"Uponmyword，mydeargirl，Ifearnot。Youseemymotherissodeadagainstit。"
"Butwecouldwait；couldwenot？"
"Ah，butthat’sjustit，Marie。Wecannotwait。Wemustdecidenow，——to—day。YouseeIcandonothingwithoutmoneyfromher——andasforyou，youseeshewon’tevenletyoustayinthehouseunlessyoumarryoldCampanatonce。He’saverygoodsortoffellowthough，oldasheis。Andifyoudomarryhim，whyyouseeyou’llstayhere，andhaveitallyourownwayineverything。Asforme，I
shallcomeandseeyouallfromtimetotime，andshallbeabletopushmywayasIoughttodo。"
"Then，Adolphe，youwishmetomarrythecapitaine？"
"UponmyhonourIthinkitisthebestthingyoucando；Idoindeed。"
"Oh，Adolphe！"
"WhatcanIdoforyou，youknow？SupposeIwastogodowntomymotherandtellherthatIhaddecidedtokeepyoumyself；whatwouldcomeofit？Lookatitinthatlight，Marie。"
"Shecouldnotturnyouout——youherownson！"
"Butshewouldturnyouout；anddeucedquick，too，Icanassureyouofthat；Ican，uponmyhonour。"
"Ishouldnotcarethat，"andshemadeamotionwithherhandtoshowhowindifferentshewouldbetosuchtreatmentasregardedherself。
"Notthat——；ifIstillhadthepromiseofyourlove。"
"Butwhatwouldyoudo？"
"Iwouldwork。Thereareotherhousesbesidethatone，"andshepointedtotheslateroofoftheBaucheestablishment。
"Andforme——Ishouldnothaveapennyintheworld，"saidtheyoungman。
Shecameuptohimandtookhisrighthandbetweenbothofhersandpresseditwarmly，oh，sowarmly。"Youwouldhavemylove，"saidshe；"mydeepest，warmestbestheart’sloveshouldwantnothingmore，nothingonearth，ifIcouldstillhaveyours。"Andsheleanedagainsthisshoulderandlookedwithallhereyesintohisface。
"But，Marie，that’snonsense，youknow。"
"No，Adolphe，itisnotnonsense。Donotletthemteachyouso。
Whatdoeslovemean，ifitdoesnotmeanthat？Oh，Adolphe，youdoloveme，youdoloveme，youdoloveme？"
"Yes；——Iloveyou，"hesaidslowly；——asthoughhewouldnothavesaidit，ifhecouldhavehelpedit。Andthenhisarmcreptslowlyroundherwaist，asthoughinthatalsohecouldnothelphimself。
"AnddonotIloveyou？"saidthepassionategirl。"Oh，Ido，sodearly；withallmyheart，withallmysoul。Adolphe，Isoloveyou，thatIcannotgiveyouup。HaveInotsworntobeyours；sworn，swornathousandtimes？HowcanImarrythatman！OhAdolphehowcanyouwishthatIshouldmarryhim？"Andsheclungtohim，andlookedathim，andbesoughthimwithhereyes。
"Ishouldn’twishit；——only——"andthenhepaused。Itwashardtotellherthathewaswillingtosacrificehertotheoldmanbecausehewantedmoneyfromhismother。
"Onlywhat！ButAdolphe，donotwishitatall！HaveyounotswornthatIshouldbeyourwife？Lookhere，lookatthis；"andshebroughtoutfromherbosomalittlecharmthathehadgivenherinreturnforthatcross。"DidyounotkissthatwhenyousworebeforethefigureoftheVirginthatIshouldbeyourwife？AnddoyounotrememberthatIfearedtosweartoo，becauseyourmotherwassoangry；andthenyoumademe？Afterthat，Adolphe！Oh，Adolphe！
TellmethatImayhavesomehope。Iwillwait；oh，Iwillwaitsopatiently。"
Heturnedhimselfawayfromherandwalkedbackwardsandforwardsuneasilythroughthegrotto。Hedidloveher；——loveherassuchmendolovesweet，prettygirls。Thewarmthofherhand，theaffectionofhertouch，thepurebrightpassionofhertear—ladeneyehadre—
awakenedwhatpoweroflovetherewaswithinhim。Butwhatwashetodo？Evenifhewerewillingtogiveuptheimmediategoldenhopeswhichhismotherheldouttohim，howwashetobegin，andthenhowcarryoutthisworkofself—devotion？Mariewouldbeturnedaway，andhewouldbeleftavictiminthehandsofhismother，andofthatstiff，wooden—leggedmilitaire；——apennilessvictim，lefttomopeabouttheplacewithoutagrainofinfluenceoramorselofpleasure。
"Butwhatcanwedo？"heexclaimedagain，asheoncemoremetMarie’ssearchingeye。
"Wecanbetrueandhonest，andwecanwait，"shesaid，comingcloseuptohimandtakingholdofhisarm。"Idonotfearit；andsheisnotmymother，Adolphe。Youneednotfearyourownmother。"
"Fear！no，ofcourseIdon’tfear。ButIdon’tseehowtheverydevilwecanmanageit。"
"WillyouletmetellherthatIwillnotmarrythecapitaine；thatI
willnotgiveupyourpromises；andthenIamreadytoleavethehouse？"
"Itwoulddonogood。"
"Itwoulddoeverygood，Adolphe，ifIhadyourpromisedwordoncemore；ifIcouldhearfromyourownvoiceonemoretoneoflove。Doyounotrememberthisplace？ItwasherethatyouforcedmetosaythatIlovedyou。ItisherealsothatyouwilltellmethatIhavebeendeceived。"
"ItisnotIthatwoulddeceiveyou，"hesaid。"Iwonderthatyoushouldbesoharduponme。GodknowsthatIhavetroubleenough。"
"Well，ifIamatroubletoyou，beitso。Beitasyouwish，"andsheleanedbackagainstthewalloftherock，andcrossingherarmsuponherbreastlookedawayfromhimandfixedhereyesuponthesharpgranitepeaksofCanigou。
Heagainbetookhimselftowalkbackwardsandforwardsthroughthecave。Hehadquiteenoughofloveforhertomakehimwishtomarryher；quiteenoughnow，atthismoment，tomaketheideaofhermarriagewiththecapitaineverydistastefultohim；enoughprobablytomakehimbecomeadecentlygoodhusbandtoher，shouldfateenablehimtomarryher；butnotenoughtoenablehimtosupportallthepunishmentwhichwouldbethesureeffectsofhismother’sdispleasure。Besides，hehadpromisedhismotherthathewouldgiveupMarie；——hadentirelygiveninhisadhesiontothatplanofthemarriagewiththecapitaine。Hehadownedthatthepathoflifeasmarkedoutforhimbyhismotherwastheonewhichitbehovedhim，asaman，tofollow。ItwasthisviewofhisdutiesasamanwhichhadIbeenspeciallyurgedonhimwithallthecapitaine’seloquence。
AndoldCampanhadentirelysucceeded。Itissoeasytogettheassentofsuchyoungmen，soweakinmindandsoweakinpocket，whentheargumentsarebackedbyapromiseoftwothousandfrancsayear。
"I’lltellyouwhatI’lldo，"atlasthesaid。"I’llgetmymotherbyherself，andwillaskhertoletthematterremainasitisforthepresent。"
"Notifitbeatrouble，M。Adolphe；"andtheproudgirlstillheldherhandsuponherbosom，andstilllookedtowardsthemountain。
"YouknowwhatImean，Marie。Youcanunderstandhowsheandthecapitaineareworryingme。"
"Buttellme，Adolphe，doyouloveme？"
"YouknowIloveyou，only。"
"Andyouwillnotgivemeup？"
"Iwillaskmymother。Iwilltryandmakeheryield。"
Mariecouldnotfeelthatshereceivedmuchconfidencefromherlover’spromise；butstill，eventhat，weakandunsteadyasitwas，eventhatwasbetterthanabsolutefixedrejection。Soshethankedhim，promisedhimwithtearsinhereyesthatshewouldalways，alwaysbefaithfultohim，andthenbadehimgodowntothehouse。
Shewouldfollow，shesaid，assoonashispassinghadceasedtobeobserved。
Thenshelookedathimasthoughsheexpectedsomesignofrenewedlove。Butnosuchsignwasvouchsafedtoher。Nowthatshethirstedforthetouchofhislipuponhercheck，itwasdeniedtoher。Hedidasshebadehim；hewentdown，slowlyloitering，byhimself；andinabouthalfanhourshefollowedhim，andunobservedcrepttoherchamber。
Againwewillpassoverwhattookplacebetweenthemotherandtheson；butlateinthatevening，aftertheguestshadgonetobed，Mariereceivedamessage，desiringhertowaitonMadameBaucheinasmallsalonwhichlookedoutfromoneendofthehouse。Itwasintendedasaprivatesitting—roomshouldanyspecialstrangerarrivewhorequiredsuchaccommodation，andthereforewasbutseldomused。
HereshefoundLaMereBauchesittinginanarm—chairbehindasmalltableonwhichstoodtwocandles；andonasofaagainstthewallsatAdolphe。Thecapitainewasnotintheroom。
"Shutthedoor，Marie，andcomeinandsitdown，"saidMadameBauche。
Itwaseasytounderstandfromthetoneofhervoicethatshewasangryandstern，inanunbendingmood，andresolvedtocarryouttotheveryletterallthethreatsconveyedbythoseterriblespectacles。
Mariedidasshewasbid。Sheclosedthedoorandsatdownonthechairthatwasnearesttoher。
"Marie，"saidLaMereBauche——andthevoicesoundedfierceinthepoorgirl’sears，andanangryfireglimmeredthroughthegreenglasses——"whatisallthisaboutthatIhear？Doyoudaretosaythatyouholdmysonboundtomarryyou？"Andthentheaugustmotherpausedforananswer。
ButMariehadnoanswertogive。Seelookedsuppliantlytowardsherlover，asthoughbeseechinghimtocarryonthefightforher。Butifshecouldnotdobattleforherself，certainlyhecouldnotdoitforher。Whatlittleamountoffightinghehadhadinhim，hadbeenthoroughlyvanquishedbeforeherarrival。
"Iwillhaveananswer，andthatimmediately，"saidMadameBauche。
"Iamnotgoingtobebetrayedintoignominyanddisgracebytheobjectofmyowncharity。Whopickedyououtofthegutter，miss，andbroughtyouupandfedyou，whenyouwouldotherwisehavegonetothefoundling？Andthisisyourgratitudeforitall？Youarenotsatisfiedwithbeingfedandclothedandcherishedbyme，butyoumustrobmeofmyson！Knowthisthen，Adolpheshallnevermarryachildofcharitysuchasyouare。"
Mariesatstill，stunnedbytheharshnessofthesewords。LaMereBauchehadoftenscoldedher；indeed，shewasgiventomuchscolding；
butshehadscoldedherasamothermayscoldachild。AndwhenthisstoryofMarie’slovefirstreachedherears，shehadbeenveryangry；butherangerhadneverbroughthertosuchapassasthis。
Indeed，Mariehadnothithertobeentaughttolookatthematterinthislight。Noonehadheretoforetwittedherwitheatingthebreadofcharity。IthadnotoccurredtoherthatonthisaccountshewasunfittobeAdolphe’swife。There，inthatvalley，theywereallsonearlyequal，thatnoideaofherowninferiorityhadeverpresseditselfuponhermind。Butnow——！
Whenthevoiceceasedsheagainlookedathim；butitwasnolongerabeseechinglook。Didhealsoaltogetherscornher？Thatwasnowtheinquirywhichhereyeswerecalledupontomake。No；shecouldnotsaythathedid。Itseemedtoherthathisenergieswerechieflyoccupiedinpullingtopiecesthetasselonthesofacushion。
"Andnow，miss，letmeknowatoncewhetherthisnonsenseistobeoverornot，"continuedLaMereBauche；"andIwilltellyouatonce，Iamnotgoingtomaintainyouhere，inmyhouse，toplotagainstourwelfareandhappiness。AsMarieClavertyoushallnotstayhere。
CapitaineCampaniswillingtomarryyou；andashiswifeIwillkeepmywordtoyou，thoughyoulittledeserveit。Ifyourefusetomarryhim，youmustgo。Astomyson，heisthere；andhewilltellyounow，inmypresence，thathealtogetherdeclinesthehonouryouproposeforhim。"
Andthensheceased，waitingforananswer，drummingthetablewithawaferstampwhichhappenedtobereadytoherhand；butMariesaidnothing。Adolphehadbeenappealedto；butAdolphehadnotyetspoken。
"Well，miss？"saidLaMereBaucheThenMarierosefromherseat，andwalkingroundshetouchedAdolphelightlyontheshoulder。"Adolphe，"shesaid，"itisforyoutospeaknow。Iwilldoasyoubidme。"
Hegavealongsigh，lookedfirstatMarieandthenathismother，shookhimselfslightly，andthenspoke："Uponmyword，Marie，I
thinkmotherisright。Itwouldneverdoforustomarry；itwouldnotindeed。"
"Thenitisdecided，"saidMarie，returningtoherchair。
"Andyouwillmarrythecapitaine？"saidLaMereBauche。
Mariemerelybowedherheadintokenofacquiescence。"Thenwearefriendsagain。Comehere，Marie，andkissme。Youmustknowthatitismydutytotakecareofmyownson。ButIdon’twanttobeangrywithyouifIcanhelpit；Idon’tindeed。WhenonceyouareMadameCampan，youshallbemyownchild；andyoushallhaveanyroominthehouseyouliketochoose——there！"AndsheoncemoreimprintedakissonMarie’scoldforehead。
Howtheyallgotoutoftheroom，andofftotheirownchambers，I
canhardlytell。Butinfiveminutesfromthetimeofthislastkisstheyweredivided。LaMereBauchehadpattedMarie，andsmiledonher，andcalledherherdeargoodlittleMadameCampan，heryounglittleMistressoftheHotelBauche；andhadthengotherselfintoherownroom，satisfiedwithherownvictory。
NormustmyreadersbetoosevereonMadameBauche。ShehadalreadydonemuchforMarieClavert；andwhenshefoundherselfoncemorebyherownbedside，sheprayedtobeforgivenforthecrueltywhichshefeltthatshehadshowntotheorphan。Butinmakingthisprayer，withherfavouritecrucifixinherhandandthelittleimageoftheVirginbeforeher，shepleadedherdutytoherson。Wasitnotright，sheaskedtheVirgin，thatsheshouldsavehersonfromabadmarriage？Andthenshepromisedeversomuchofrecompense，bothtotheVirginandtoMarie；anewtrousseauforeach，withcandlestotheVirgin，withagoldwatchandchainforMarie，assoonassheshouldbeMarieCampan。Shehadbeencruel；sheacknowledgedit。
Butatsuchacrisiswasitnotdefensible？Andthentherecompenseshouldbesofull！
Buttherewasoneothermeetingthatnight，veryshortindeed，butnotthelesssignificant。Notlongaftertheyhadallseparated，justsolongastoallowofthehousebeingquiet，Adolphe，stillsittinginhisroom，meditatingonwhatthedayhaddoneforhim，heardalowtapathisdoor。"Comein，"hesaid，asmenalwaysdosay；andMarieopeningthedoor，stoodjustwithinthevergeofhischamber。Shehadonhercountenanceneitherthesoftlookofentreatinglovewhichshehadwornupthereinthegrotto，nordidsheappearcrushedandsubduedasshehaddonebeforehismother。
Shecarriedherheadsomewhatmoreerectthanusual，andlookedboldlyoutathimfromunderhersofteyelashes。Theremightstillbelovethere，butitwasloveproudlyresolvingtoquellitself。
Adolphe，ashelookedather，feltthathewasafraidofher。
"Itisalloverthenbetweenus，M。Adolphe？"shesaid。
"Well，yes。Don’tyouthinkithadbetterbeso，eh，Marie？"
"Andthisisthemeaningofoathsandvows，sworntoeachothersosacredly？"
"But，Marie，youheardwhatmymothersaid。"
"Oh，sir！Ihavenotcometoaskyouagaintoloveme。Ohno！Iamnotthinkingofthat。Butthis，thiswouldbealieifIkeptitnow；itwouldchokemeifIworeitasthatman’swife。Takeitback；"andshetenderedtohimthelittlecharmwhichshehadalwayswornroundhernecksincehehadgivenittoher。Hetookitabstractedly，withoutthinkingwhathedid，andplaceditonhisdressing—table。
"Andyou，"shecontinued，"canyoustillkeepthatcross？Oh，no！
youmustgivemebackthat。Itwouldremindyoutoooftenofvowsthatwereuntrue。"
"Marie，"hesaid，"donotbesoharshtome。"
"Harsh！"saidshe，"no；therehasbeenenoughofharshness。Iwouldnotbeharshtoyou，Adolphe。Butgivemethecross；itwouldproveacursetoyouifyoukeptit。"
Hethenopenedalittleboxwhichstooduponthetable，andtakingoutthecrossgaveittoher。
"Andnowgood—bye，"shesaid。"Weshallhavebutlittlemoretosaytoeachother。Iknowthisnow，thatIwaswrongevertohavelovedyou。Ishouldhavebeentoyouasoneoftheotherpoorgirlsinthehouse。But，oh！howwasItohelpit？"Tothishemadenoanswer，andshe，closingthedoorsoftly，wentbacktoherchamber。AndthusendedthefirstdayofAdolpheBauche’sreturntohisownhouse。
OnthenextmorningthecapitaineandMariewereformallybetrothed。
Thiswasdonewithsomelittleceremony，inthepresenceofalltheguestswhowerestayingattheestablishment，andwithallmannerofgraciousacknowledgmentsofMarie’svirtues。ItseemedasthoughLaMereBauchecouldnotbecourteousenoughtoher。Therewasnomoretalkofherbeingachildofcharity；nomoreallusionnowtothegutter。LaMereBauchewithherownhandbroughthercakewithaglassofwineafterherbetrothalwasover，andpattedheronthecheek，andcalledherherdearlittleMarieCampan。Andthenthecapitainewasmadeupofinfinitepoliteness，andtheguestsallwishedherjoy，andtheservantsofthehousebegantoperceivethatshewasapersonentitledtorespect。Howdifferentwasallthisfromthatharshattackthatwasmadeonhertheprecedingevening！
OnlyAdolphe，——healonekeptaloof。Thoughhewaspresenttherehesaidnothing。He，andheonly，offerednocongratulations。
InthemidstofallthesegaladoingsMarieherselfsaidlittleornothing。LaMereBaucheperceivedthis，butsheforgaveit。AngrilyasshehadexpressedherselfattheideaofMarie’sdaringtoloveherson，shehadstillacknowledgedwithinherownheartthatsuchlovehadbeennatural。ShecouldfeelnopityforMarieaslongasAdolphewasindanger；butnowsheknewhowtopityher。SoMariewasstillpettedandstillencouraged，thoughshewentthroughtheday’sworksullenlyandinsilence。
Astothecapitaineitwasallonetohim。Hewasamanoftheworld。Hedidnotexpectthatheshouldreallybepreferred，conamore，toayoungfellowlikeAdolphe。ButhedidexpectthatMarie，likeothergirls，woulddoasshewasbid；andthatinafewdaysshewouldregainhertemperandbereconciledtoherlife。
Andthenthemarriagewasfixedforaveryearlyday；forasLaMeresaid，"Whatwastheuseofwaiting？Alltheirmindsweremadeupnow，andthereforethesoonerthetwoweremarriedthebetter。Didnotthecapitainethinkso？"
Thecapitainesaidthathedidthinkso。
AndthenMariewasasked。Itwasallonetoher，shesaid。WhateverMamanBaucheliked，thatshewoulddo；onlyshewouldnotnameadayherself。Indeedshewouldneitherdonorsayanythingherselfwhichtendedinanywaytoafurtheranceofthesematrimonials。Butthensheacquiesced，quietlyenoughifnotreadily，inwhatotherpeopledidandsaid；andsothemarriagewasfixedforthedayweekafterAdolphe’sreturn。
Thewholeofthatweekpassedmuchinthesameway。TheservantsabouttheplacespokeamongthemselvesofMarie’sperverseness，obstinacy，andingratitude，becauseshewouldnotlookpleased，oranswerMadameBauche’scourtesieswithgratitude；butLaMereherselfshowednosignsofanger。Mariehadyieldedtoher，andsherequirednomore。Andsherememberedalsotheharshwordsshehadusedtogainherpurpose；andshereflectedonallthatMariehadlost。Ontheseaccountsshewasforbearingandexactednothing——nothingbutthatonesacrificewhichwastobemadeinaccordancetoherwishes。
Anditwasmade。Theyweremarriedinthegreatsalon，thedining—
room，immediatelyafterbreakfast。MadameBauchewasdressedinanewpucesilkdress，andlookedverymagnificentontheoccasion。
Shesimperedandsmiled，andlookedgayeveninspiteofherspectacles；andastheceremonywasbeingperformed，sheheldfastclutchedinherhandthegoldwatchandchainwhichwereintendedforMarieassoonaseverthemarriageshouldbecompleted。
Thecapitainewasdressedexactlyasusual，onlythatallhisclotheswerenew。MadameBauchehadendeavouredtopersuadehimtowearabluecoat；butheansweredthatsuchachangewouldnot，hewassure，betoMarie’staste。Totellthetruth，Mariewouldhardlyhaveknownthedifferencehadhepresentedhimselfinscarletvestments。
Adolphe，however，wasdressedveryfinely，buthedidnotmakehimselfprominentontheoccasion。Mariewatchedhimclosely，thoughnonesawthatshedidso；andofhisgarmentsshecouldhavegivenanaccountwithmuchaccuracy——ofhisgarments，ay！andofeverylook。
"Isheaman，"shesaidatlasttoherself，"thathecanstandbyandseeallthis？"
Shetoowasdressedinsilk。Theyhadputonherwhattheypleased，andsheboretheburdenofherweddingfinerywithoutcomplaintandwithoutpride。Therewasnoblushonherfaceasshewalkeduptothetableatwhichtheprieststood，norhesitationinherlowvoiceasshemadethenecessaryanswers。Sheputherhandintothatofthecapitainewhenrequiredtodoso；andwhentheringwasputonherfingersheshuddered，buteversoslightly。NooneobserveditbutLaMereBauche。"Inoneweekshewillbeusedtoit，andthenweshallallbehappy，"saidLaMeretoherself。"AndI，——Iwillbesokindtoher！"
Andsothemarriagewascompleted，andthewatchwasatoncegiventoMarie。"Thankyou，maman，"saidshe，asthetrinketwasfastenedtohergirdle。Haditbeenapincushionthathadcostthreesous，itwouldhaveaffectedherasmuch。
Andthentherewascakeandwineandsweetmeats；andafterafewminutesMariedisappeared。Foranhourorsothecapitainewastakenupwiththecongratulatingofhisfriends，andwiththeeffortsnecessarytothewearingofhisnewhonourswithanairofease；butafterthattimehebegantobeuneasybecausehiswifedidnotcometohim。AttwoorthreeintheafternoonhewenttoLaMereBauchetocomplain。"Thislackadaisicalnonsenseisnogood，"hesaid。"Atanyrateitistoolatenow。Mariehadbettercomedownamongusandshowherselfsatisfiedwithherhusband。"
ButMadameBauchetookMarie’spart。"YoumustnotbetoohardonMarie，"shesaid。"Shehasgonethroughagooddealthisweekpast，andisveryyoung；whereas，capitaine，youarenotveryyoung。"
Thecapitainemerelyshruggedhisshoulders。InthemeantimeMereBauchewentuptovisitherprotegeeinherownroom，andcamedownwithareportthatshewassufferingfromaheadache。Shecouldnotappearatdinner，MadameBauchesaid；butwouldmakeoneatthelittlepartywhichwastobegivenintheevening。Withthisthecapitainewasforcedtobecontent。
Thedinnerthereforewentonquietlywithouther，muchasitdidonotherordinarydays。Andthentherewasalittletimeforvacancy，duringwhichthegentlemendranktheircoffeeandsmokedtheircigarsatthecafe，talkingovertheeventthathadtakenplacethatmorning，andtheladiesbrushedtheirhairandaddedsomeribbonorsomebroochtotheirusualapparel。TwiceduringthistimedidMadameBauchegouptoMarie’sroomwithofferstoassisther。"Notyet，maman；notquiteyet，"saidMariepiteouslythroughhertears，andthentwicedidthegreenspectaclesleavetheroom，coveringeyeswhichalsowerenotdry。Ah！whathadshedone？Whathadshedaredtotakeuponherselftodo？Shecouldnotundoitnow。
Andthenitbecamequitedarkinthepassagesandoutofdoors，andtheguestsassembledinthesalon。LaMerecameinandoutthreeorfourtimes，uneasyinhergaitandunpleasantinheraspect，andeverybodybegantoseethatthingswerewrong。"Sheisill，Iamafraid，"saidone。"Theexcitementhasbeentoomuch，"saidasecond；"andheissoold，"whisperedathird。Andthecapitainestalkedabouterectonhiswoodenleg，takingsnuff，andstrivingtolookindifferent；buthealsowasuneasyinhismind。
PresentlyLaMerecameinagain，withaquickerstepthanbefore，andwhisperedsomething，firsttoAdolpheandthentothecapitaine，whereupontheybothfollowedheroutoftheroom。
"Notinherchamber，"saidAdolphe。
"Thenshemustbeinyours，"saidthecapitaine。
"Sheisinneither，"saidLaMereBauche，withhersternestvoice；
"norissheinthehouse！"
Andnowtherewasnolongeranaffectationofindifferenceonthepartofanyofthem。Theywereanythingbutindifferent。Thecapitainewaseagerinhisdemandsthatthemattershouldstillbekeptsecretfromtheguests。Shehadalwaysbeenromantic，hesaid，andhadnowgoneouttowalkbytheriverside。Theythreeandtheoldbath—manwouldgooutandlookforher。
"Butitispitchdark，"saidLaMereBauche。
"Wewilltakelanterns，"saidthecapitaine。Andsotheysalliedforthwithcreepingstepsoverthegravel，sothattheymightnotbeheardbythosewithin，andproceededtosearchfortheyoungwife。
"Marie！Marie！"saidLaMereBauche，inpiteousaccents；"docometome；praydo！"
"Hush！"saidthecapitaine。"They’llhearyouifyoucall。"HecouldnotendurethattheworldshouldlearnthatamarriagewithhimhadbeensodistastefultoMarieClavert。
"Marie，dearMarie！"calledMadameBauche，louderthanbefore，quiteregardlessofthecapitaine’sfeelings；butnoMarieanswered。InherinnermostheartnowdidLaMereBauchewishthatthiscruelmarriagehadbeenleftundone。
Adolphewasforemostwithhislamp，buthehardlydaredtolookinthespotwherehefeltthatitwasmostlikelythatsheshouldhavetakenrefuge。Howcouldhemeetheragain，alone，inthatgrotto？
Yethealoneofthefourwasyoung。Itwasclearlyforhimtoascend。"Marie，"heshouted，"areyouthere？"asheslowlybeganthelongascentofthesteps。
Buthehadhardlybeguntomountwhenawhirringsoundstruckhisear，andhefeltthattheairnearhimwasmoved；andthentherewasacrashuponthelowerplatformofrock，andamoan，repeatedtwice，butsofaintly，andarustleofsilk，andaslightstrugglesomewhereasheknewwithintwentypacesofhim；andthenallwasagainquietandstillinthenightair。
"Whatwasthat？"askedthecapitaineinahoarsevoice。Hemadehiswayhalfacrossthelittlegarden，andhealsowaswithinfortyorfiftyyardsoftheflatrock。ButAdolphewasunabletoanswerhim。
Hehadfaintedandthelamphadfallenfromhishandsandrolledtothebottomofthesteps。
Butthecapitaine，thoughevenhisheartwasallbutquenchedwithinhim，hadstillstrengthenoughtomakehiswayuptotherock；andthere，holdingthelanternabovehiseyes，hesawallthatwasleftforhimtoseeofhisbride。
AsforLaMereBauche，sheneveragainsatattheheadofthattable，——neveragaindictatedtoguests，——neveragainlaiddownlawsforthemanagementofanyone。Apoorbedriddenoldwoman，shelaythereinherhouseatVernetforsomeseventediousyears，andthenwasgatheredtoherfathers。
Asforthecapitaine——butwhatmatters？Hewasmadeofsternerstuff。WhatmatterseitherthefateofsuchaoneasAdolpheBauche？