would your aunt, to let you remain here till you lose your good
looks, and become an old woman on our hands. You are a pretty girl,
Marie, and fit to be any man's wife, and you ought to take a
husband. I am quite in earnest now, my dear; and I speak altogether
for your own welfare.'

'I know you are in earnest, and I know that you speak for my
welfare.'

'Well;--well;--what then? Of course, it is only reasonable that you
should be married some day. Here is a young man in a better way of
business than any man, old or young, that comes into Granpere. He
has a house in Basle, and money to put in it whatever you want. And
for the matter of that, Marie, my niece shall not go away from me
empty-handed.'

She drew herself closer to him and took hold of his arm and pressed
it, and looked up into his face.

'I brought nothing with me,' she said, 'and I want to take nothing
away.'

'Is that it?' he said, speaking rapidly. 'Let me tell you then, my
girl, that you shall have nothing but your earnings,--your fair
earnings. Don't you take trouble about that. Urmand and I will
settle that between us, and I will go bail there shall be no
unpleasant words. As I said before, my girl sha'n't leave my house
empty-handed; but, Lord bless you, he would only be too happy to
take you in your petticoat, just as you are. I never saw a fellow
more in love with a girl. Come, Marie, you need not mind saying the