'The Hotel Lion d'Or, Granpere,
October 1, 186-.

'M. URMAND,

'I take up my pen in great sorrow and remorse to write you a letter,
and to prevent you from coming over here for me, as you intended, on
this day fortnight. I have promised to be your wife, but it cannot
be. I know that I have behaved very badly, but it would be worse if
I were to go on and deceive you. Before I knew you I had come to be
fond of another man; and I find now, though I have struggled hard to
do what my uncle wishes, that I could not promise to love you and be
your wife. I have not told Uncle Michel yet, but I shall as soon as
this letter is gone.

'I am very, very sorry for the trouble I have given you. I did not
mean to be bad. I hope that you will forget me, and try to forgive
me. No one knows better than I do how bad I have been.

'Your most humble servant,
'With the greatest respect,
'MARIE BROMAR.'

The letter had taken her long to write, and it took her uncle long
to read, before he came to the end of it. He did not get through a
line without sundry interruptions, which all arose from his
determination to contradict at once every assertion which she made.
'You cannot prevent his coming,' he said, 'and it shall not be
prevented.' 'Of course, you have promised to be his wife, and it