had, of course, to be made as to his unexpected arrival;--questions
asked, and suggestions offered--'Came he in peace, or came he in
war?' Had he come because he had heard of the betrothals? He
admitted that it was so. 'And you are glad of it?' asked Madame
Voss. 'You will congratulate her with all your heart?'

'I will congratulate her certainly,' said George. Then the cook and
Peter began with a copious flow of domestic eloquence to declare how
great a marriage this was for the Lion d'Or--how pleasing to the
master, how creditable to the village, how satisfactory to the
friends, how joyous to the bridegroom, how triumphant to the bride!
'No doubt she will have plenty to eat and drink, and fine clothes to
wear, and an excellent house over her head,' said George in his
bitterness.

'And she will be married to one of the most respectable young men in
all Switzerland,' said Madame Voss in a tone of much anger. It was
already quite clear to Madame Voss, to the cook, and to Peter, that
George had not come over from Colmar simply to express his joyous
satisfaction at his cousin's good fortune.

He soon walked through into the little sitting-room, and his step-
mother followed him. 'George,' she said, 'you will displease your
father very much if you say anything unkind about Marie.'

'I know very well,' said he, 'that my father cares more for Marie
than he does for me.'

'That is not so, George.'