was half a marriage. It was half the ceremony in the eyes of all
those concerned; but yet, in regard to that indissoluble bond which
would indeed have divided Marie from him beyond the reach of any
hope to the contrary, such betrothal was of no effect whatever.
This man whom she did not love was not yet Marie's husband;--need
never become so if Marie could only be sufficiently firm in
resisting the influence of all her friends. No priest could marry
her without her own consent. He--George--he himself would have to
face the enmity of all those with whom he was connected. He was
sure that his father, having been a party to the betrothal, would
never consent to a breach of his promise to Urmand. Madame Voss,
Madame Faragon, the priest, and their Protestant pastor would all be
against them. They would be as it were outcasts from their own
family. But George Voss, sitting there on his bedside, thought that
he could go through it all, if only he could induce Marie Bromar to
bear the brunt of the world's displeasure with him. As he got into
bed he determined that he would begin upon the matter to his father
during the morning's walk. His father would be full of wrath;--but
the wrath would have to be endured sooner or later.



CHAPTER XIII.

On the next morning Michel Voss and his son met in the kitchen, and
found Marie already there. 'Well, my girl,' said Michel, as he
patted Marie's shoulder, and kissed her forehead, 'you've been up
getting a rare breakfast for these fellows, I see.' Marie smiled,
and made some good-humoured reply. No one could have told by her
face that there was anything amiss with her. 'It's the last favour