'O yes, I will go down presently. I should not be happy if the
things were not put straight. Everything is about the house
everywhere. We need not, I suppose, become like pigs because M.
Urmand has come from Basle.'

'No; we need not be like pigs,' said Madame Voss. 'Come into my
room a moment, Marie. I want to speak to you. Your uncle won't be
up yet.' Then she led the way, and Marie followed her. 'Your uncle
is becoming angry, Marie, because--'

'Because why? Have I done anything to make him angry?'

'Why are you so cross to this young man?'

'I am not cross, Aunt Josey. I went on just the same as I always
do. If Uncle Michel wants anything else, that is his fault;--not
mine.'

'Of course you know what he wants, and I must say that you ought to
obey him. You gave him a sort of a promise, and now he thinks that
you are breaking it.'

'I gave him no promise,' said Marie stoutly.

'He says that you told him that you would at any rate be civil to M.
Urmand.'

'And I have been civil,' said Marie.