rise, but waited till he had come close up to her. Then she was the
first to speak. 'Aunt Josey tells me that you want to see me,' she
said.

Urmand's task was certainly not a pleasant one. Though his temper
was excellent, he was already beginning to think that he was being
ill-used. Marie, no doubt, was a very fine girl, but the match that
he offered her was one at which no young woman of her rank in all
Lorraine or Alsace need have turned up her nose. He had been
invited over to Granpere specially that he might spend his time in
making love, and he had found the task before him very hard and
disagreeable. He was afflicted with all the ponderous notoriety of
an acknowledged suitor's position, but was consoled with none of the
usual comforts. Had he not been pledged to make the attempt, he
would probably have gone back to Basle; as it was, he was compelled
to renew his offer. He was aware that he could not leave the house
without doing so. But he was determined that one more refusal
should be the last.

'Marie,' said he, putting out his hand to her, 'doubtless you know
what it is that I would say.'

'I suppose I do,' she answered.

'I hope you do not doubt my true affection for you.'

She paused a moment before she replied. 'I have no reason to doubt
it,' she said.

'No indeed. I love you with all my heart. I do truly. Your uncle