astray.

But Marie was still gentle with the children: when she could be
with them for half an hour, she would sit with them on her lap, or
clustering round, kissing them and saying soft words to them,--even
softer in her affection than had been her wont. They understood as
well as everybody else that something was wrong,--that there was to
be some change as to Marie which perhaps would not be a change for
the better; that there was cause for melancholy, for close kissing
as though such kissing were in preparation for parting, and for soft
strokings with their little hands as though Marie were to be pitied
for that which was about to come upon her. 'Isn't somebody coming
to take you away?' little Michel asked her, when they were quite
alone. Marie had not known how to answer him. She had therefore
embraced him closely, and a tear fell upon his face. 'Ah,' he said,
'I know somebody is coming to take you away. Will not papa help
you?' She had not spoken; but for the moment she had taken courage,
and had resolved that she would help herself.

At length the day was there on which Adrian Urmand was to come. It
was his purpose to travel by Mulhouse and Remiremont, and Michel
Voss drove over to the latter town to fetch him. It was felt by
every one--it could not be but felt--that there was something
special in his coming. His arrival now was not like the arrival of
any one else. Marie, with all her resolution that it should be like
usual arrivals at the inn, could not avoid the making of some
difference herself. A better supper was prepared than usual; and,
at the last moment, she herself assisted in preparing it. The young
men clustered round the door of the hotel earlier than usual to
welcome the new-comer. M. le Cure was there with a clean white