At last she determined that she would write a letter to M. Urmand,
and show a copy of the letter to her uncle when the post should have
taken it so far out of Granpere on its way to Basle, as to make it
impossible that her uncle should recall it. Much of the day after
George's departure, and much of the night, was spent in the
preparation of this letter. Marie Bromar was not so well practised
in the writing of letters as will be the majority of the young
ladies who may, perhaps, read her history. It was a difficult thing
for her to begin the letter, and a difficult thing for her to bring
it to its end. But the letter was written and sent. The post left
Granpere at about eight in the morning, taking all letters by way of
Remiremont; and on the day following George's departure, the post
took Marie Bromar's letter to M. Urmand.

When it was gone, her state of mind was very painful. Then it was
necessary that she should show the copy to her uncle. She had
posted the letter between six and seven with her own hands, and had
then come trembling back to the inn, fearful that her uncle should
discover what she had done before her letter should be beyond his
reach. When she saw the mail conveyance go by on its route to
Remiremont, then she knew that she must begin to prepare for her
uncle's wrath. She thought that she had heard that the letters were
detained some time at Remiremont before they went on to Epinal in
one direction, and to Mulhouse in the other. She looked at the
railway time-table which was hung up in one of the passages of the
inn, and saw the hour of the departure of the diligence from
Remiremont to catch the train at Mulhouse for Basle. When that hour
was passed, the conveyance of her letter was insured, and then she
must show the copy to her uncle. He came into the house about
twelve, and eat his dinner with his wife in the little chamber.