Whatsuddennoiseisthisoutside?”Fire！Fire！Let’sburnthemintheircot！”
　　Flamesshinethroughalltheshutterswide，ThenFranconnettespringstothedoorwaytremblingly，And，graciousHeaven！whatdothshesee?
　　Bylightofburningreek，Anangrypeoplehuddledthick；
　　Shehearsthemshout，”Now，toyourfate！
　　Sparene’ertheyoungone，northeold，Bothworkusruinmanifold。
　　Soldtothedemon，wemustburnyoustraight！”
　　Thegirlfellonherknees，beforethefaceOfthatmostfuriouspopulace。
　　Shecried，”Grandmotherwillyoukill?Oh，pity，grace！””Twasofnouse，thewretches，blindwithfury，Inviewingherbareheaded，intheirhurry，Sawbutacursedleman，Soldbodilytothedemon。
　　Thefiercestcried”Avaunt！”
　　Whilethemoresavageforwardspring，Andonthedoortheirfeettheyplant，Withfierybrandintheirhandbrandishing。”Hold！Iimploreyou！”criedavoice，beforeunheard；
　　Andsuddenleaptbeforethecrowdlikelightningwiththeword，Amanofstatelystrengthandtall，Itwasthenoble，bravePascal！”Cowards！”hecried。”What?Willyoumurderwomenthen，Andburntheircot?ChildrenofGod！Areyouthesame?
　　Tigersyouare，andcannotthenbemen；
　　Andafterallthattheyhavesuffered！Shame！
　　Fallback！Fallback！Isay；thewallsaregrowinghot！””Thenletherleaveusquite，thiswretchedHuguenot，Forshewaslongsincebythedevilbought，Godsmitesus’causewedidnotdriveherforthbefore。””Quick！quick！”criedPascal，”livingtheywillburn！
　　Yedogs，whomovedyetothisawfulcrime?””’TwasMarcel，”theyreplied。”See，nowhecomesintime！””Youlie！”thesoldierthunderedinhisturn；”Iloveher，boaster，morethanthou！”
　　SaidPascal，”Howwiltprovethylove，thouofthetenderheart?””Icome，”theothersaid，”tosaveher。Icometotakeherpart。
　　Icome，ifsoshewill，towedher，evennow。””AndsoamI，”repliedPascal，andsteadfastlyBeforehisrival’seyes，asboundbysomegreatspell。
　　Thentotheorphangirlturnedhe，Withworshipallunspeakable。”Answerme，Franconnette，andspeakthetruthalone；
　　Thou’stfollowedbythewickedwithspiteandscorn，myown；
　　Butwetwolovetheewell，andreadyaretobraveDeath！Yes，orhell，thypreciouslifetosave。
　　Choosewhichofusthouwilt！””Nay，”shelamentedsore，”Dearest，mineisalovethatslays！
　　Behappy，then，withoutme！Forgetme！Gothyways！””Happywithoutthee，dear！ThatcanInevermore：
　　Nay，wereittrue，aslyingrumoursays，Anevilspiritruledyouo’er，I’dratherdiewithyou，thanlivebereaveddays！”
　　Whenlifeisatitsbitterest，Thevoiceofloveayerulesusbest；
　　Instantlyrosethegirlabovehermortaldread，Andonthecrowdadvancingstraight，”BecauseIlovePascal，aloneI’dmeetmyfate！
　　Howbeithiswillislaw，”shesaid，”Whereforetogetherletoursoulsbesped。”
　　ThenwasPascalinheav’n，andMarcelinthedustlaidlow；
　　ThenPascalsoughthisgallantrival，saying，”Iammoreblestthanthou！Forgive！thou’rtbrave，Iknow，Somesquire[9]shouldfollowmetodeath；thenwiltthounotServeme?Ihavenootherfriend！”Marcelseemeddreaming；
　　Andnowhescowledwithwrath，andnowhiseyeswerekindling；
　　Terriblewasthebattleinhismind；
　　TillhiseyefellonFranconnette，sereneandbeaming，Butwithnowordforhim；thenpale，butsmilingly，”Becauseitisherwill，”hesaid，”Ifollowthee。”
　　Twoweekshadpassedaway，andastrangenuptialtrain，Adowntheverdanthillwentslowlytotheplain；
　　Firstcamethecomelypairweknow，inalltheirbloom，Whilegatheredfarandwide，threedeeponeitherside，Theever-curiousrusticshied，Shudd’ringathearto’erPascal’sdoom。
　　Marcelconductstheirmarch，butpleasureskindlytrue，Glowsnotuponth’unmovingfaceheliftstoview。
　　Andsomethingglancesfromhiseye，Thatmakesmenshudderastheypasshimby；
　　Yetverilyhismientriumphantis，atleastSolemasterisheofthisfeast，Andgiveshisrival，forbouquet，Asupperandaballto-day。
　　ButatthedanceandattheboardAlike，scarceoneessayedaword；
　　Nonesungasong，noneraisedajest，Fordarkforebodingseveryoneoppressed。
　　Andthebetrothed，bylove’sdeeprapturefascinated，Silentandsweet，thoughnearthefateshesadawaited，Nosoundtheirdreamdispelled，yethandinhanddidpress，Theireyeslookedeverinavisionedhappiness；
　　Andso，atlast，theeveningfell。
　　Butoneaffrightedwomanstraightwaybrokethespell；
　　ShefellonPascal’sneckand”Fly，myson！”shecried。”IfromtheSorcerercome！Fly，flyfromthyfalsebrideThefatalsieve[10]hathturned；thydeathdecreeisspoken！
　　There’ssulphurfumeinbridalroom，andbythesamedreadtoken，Enteritnot；forifthouliv’stthou’rtlost，”shesadlysaid；”Andwhatwerelifetome，myson，ifthouwertdead?”
　　ThenPascalfelthiseyeswerewet，Andturnedaway，strivingtohidehisface，whereonThemothershrieked，”Ingrate！butIwillsavetheeyet。
　　Thouwiltnotdare！”——fallingbeforeherstrickenson。”Thoushaltnowo’ermybodypass，evenasthougoestforth！
　　Awife，itseems，isall；andmothernothingworth！
　　UnhappythatIam！”Thecrowdalas！theirheavytearsrandown！”Marcel，”thebridegroomsaid，”hergriefismydespair；
　　Butlove，thouknowest，’sstrongeryet；indeed’tistimetogo！
　　Only，shouldIperish，letmymotherbethycare。””Icannomore，”criedMarcel，”thymother’sconqueredhere。”
　　Andthenthevaliantsoldierfromhiseyelidsbrushedatear。”Takecourage，Pascal，friendofmineThyFranconnetteisgoodandpure。
　　Thathideoustalewastold，ofdarkdesign；
　　Butgivethymotherthanks；butforhercoming，sureThisnightmightyethaveseenmydeathandthine。””Whatsay’stthou?””Hush！nowIwilltelltheeall；
　　ThouknowestthatIlov’dthismaid，Pascal。
　　Forher，likethee，Iwouldhaveshedmyblood；
　　IdreamtthatIwaslovedagain；sheheldmeinherthrall。
　　Albeitmyprayerwasayewithstood；
　　Herelderspromisedhertome；
　　Andso，whenothersuitorsbarr’dmyway，Inspite，Saying，inloveorwar，onemayusestrategy，Igavethewizardgold，myrivaltoaffright，Therefore，mychancedideverything，insomuchthatIsaid，Mytreasureisalreadywonandmade。
　　Butwhen，inthesamebreath，wetwooursuitmadeknown，AndwhenIsawher，withoutturnofhead，Choosethee，tomydespair，itwasnottobeborne。
　　AndthenIvow’dherdeathandthine，beforethemorrowmorn！
　　Ithoughttoleadyouforthtothebridalbowererelong，Andthen，thebedbesidewhichIhadminedwithcare，Thattheymightsaynoprinceorpowerofth’airIshere。ThatImightburnyouformywrong；
　　Ay，crossyourselves，thoughtI，foryoushallsurelydie！
　　Butthymother，withhertears，hasmademyvengeanceflyIthoughtofmyown，Pascal，whodiedsolongago。
　　Carethouforthine！Andnowfearnoughtfromme，Itrow，Edeniscomingdowntoearthforthee，nodoubt，ButI，whomhenceforthmencanonlyhateandflout，Willtothewarsaway！ForinmesomethingsaithImayrecoverfrommyrout，Betterthanbyacrime！Ay！byasoldier’sdeath！”
　　Thussaying，Marcelvanished，loudlycheeredoneveryside；
　　Andthenwithdeepeningblushesthetwaineachothereyed，FornowthemorningstarsinthedarkheavensshoneButnowIliftmypencilsuddenly。
　　ColoursforstrifeandpainhaveI，Butforsuchperfectrapture——none！
　　Andsothemorningcame，withsoftly-dawninglight，Nosound，nostirasyetwithinthecottagewhite，AtEstanquetthepeopleofthehamletsgatheredwere，Towaitthewakingofthehappymarriedpair。
　　Marcelhadfranklytoldth’unhappytruth；Nathless，Thedevilhadanawfulpower，Andignorancewasstillhisdower。