privacy attached to bedrooms than is the case with us here in
England. Marie knew immediately then that her cousin had not come
to Granpere for nothing,--had not come with the innocent intention
of simply pleasing his father,--had not come to say an ordinary word
of farewell to her before her marriage. There was to be something
of a scene, though she could not tell of what nature the scene might
be. She knew, however, that her own conduct had been right; and
therefore, though she would have avoided the scene, had it been
possible, she would not fear it. She went into his room; and when
he closed the door, she smiled, and did not as yet tremble.

'Marie,' he said, 'I have come here on purpose to say a word or two
to you.' There was no smile on her face as he spoke now. The
intention to be savage was written there, as plainly as any purpose
was ever written on man's countenance. Marie read the writing
without missing a letter. She was to be rebuked, and sternly
rebuked;--rebuked by the man who had taken her heart, and then left
her;--rebuked by the man who had crushed her hopes and made it
absolutely necessary for her to give up all the sweet poetry of her
life, to forget her dreams, to abandon every wished-for prettiness
of existence, and confine herself to duties and to things material!
He who had so sinned against her was about to rid himself of the
burden of his sin by endeavouring to cast it upon her. So much she
understood, but yet she did not understand all that was to come.
She would hear the rebuke as quietly as she might. In the interest
of others she would do so. But she would not fear him,--and she
would say a quiet word in defence of her own sex if there should be
need. Such was the purport of her mind as she stood opposite to him
in his room.