has everything she wants,--just as a daughter, and she would not
take the trouble to change her dress to grace my friend,--as you
did, as any daughter would! I am angry with her.'

'Do not be angry with her. I think I can understand why she did not
put on another frock.'

'So can I understand. I can understand well enough. I am not a
fool. What is it she wants, I wonder? What is it she expects?
Does she think some Count from Paris is to come and fetch her?'

'Nay, Michel, I think she expects nothing of that sort.'

'Then let her behave like any other young woman, and do as she is
bid. He is not old or ugly, or a sot, or a gambler. Upon my word
and honour I can't conceive what it is that she wants. I can't
indeed.' It was perhaps the fault of Michel Voss that he could not
understand that a young woman should live in the same house with
him, and have a want which he did not conceive. Poor Marie! All
that she wanted now, at this moment, was to be let alone!

Madame Voss, in obedience to her husband's commands, went up to
Marie and found her sitting in the children's room, leaning with her
head on her hand and her elbow on the table, while the children were
asleep around her. She was waiting till the house should be quiet,
so that she could go down and complete her work. 'O, is it you,
Aunt Josey?' she said. 'I am waiting till uncle and M. Urmand are
gone, that I may go down and put away the wine and the fruit.'

'Never mind that to-night, Marie.'