nice-looking young man!'

But it was not a part of Marie's programme to be waked up to
enthusiasm--at any rate by her aunt. She said little or nothing,
and would not even condescend to consider that interesting question,
of the day of the wedding. 'There is quite time enough for all
that, Aunt Josey,' she said, as she got up to go about her work.
Aunt Josey was almost inclined to resent such usage, and would have
done so, had not her respect for her niece been so great.

Michel did not return till near seven, and walking straight through
his wife's room to Marie's seat of office, came upon his niece
before he had seen any one else. There was an angry look about his
brow, for he had been trying to teach himself that he was ill-used
by his niece, in spite of that half-formed resolution to release her
from persecution if she were still firm in her opposition to the
marriage. 'Well,' he said, as soon as he saw her,--'well, how is it
to be?' She got off her stool, and coming close to him put up her
face to be kissed. He understood it all in a moment, and the whole
tone and colour of his countenance was altered. There was no man
whose face would become more radiant with satisfaction than that of
Michel Voss--when he was satisfied. Please him--and immediately
there would be an effort on his part to please everybody around him.
'My darling, my own one,' he said, 'it is all right.' She kissed
him again and pressed his arm, but said not a word. 'I am so glad,'
he exclaimed; 'I am so glad!' And he knocked off his cap with his
hand, not knowing what he was doing. 'We shall have but a poor
house without you, Marie--a very poor house. But it is as it ought
to be. I have felt for the last year or two, as you have sprung up
to be such a woman among us, my dear, that there was only one place