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As soon as Urmand was gone, he rose slowly from his seat, and with heavy steps he went up- stairs in search of the refractory girl. He went straight to her own bedroom, and there he found her still sitting on her bedside. She jumped up as soon as he was in the room, and running up to him, took him by the arm. 'Uncle Michel, she said, 'pray, pray be good to me. Pray, spare me!

'My friend, said he, 'and you, Madame Voss particularly, I feel particularly obliged to you for this charming entertainment. Then the innkeeper cheered his guest, whereupon Madame Voss pulled her husband's sleeve harder than before. 'I am, indeed, continued Urmand. 'The best thing will be, said he, 'to make a clean breast of it at once.

'And she has disgraced herself, said Adrian Urmand, with all the emphasis that he had at command. 'I deny it, said Marie's uncle, coming close up to his opponent, and standing before him. 'I deny it. It is not true. That shall not be said in my hearing, even by you. 'But I do say it. She has disgraced herself. Did she not give me her troth, when all the time she intended to marry another man?

It was then a great thing in his eyes that Marie should marry a man so polished, though much of the polish may have come from pomade. Now his ideas were altered, and, as he sat alone upon the log, he continued to turn up his nose at poor M. Urmand. But how was he to be rid of him, and, if not of him, what was he to do then?

'Meaning of what? asked Michel. 'I don't understand it I don't understand it at all, said Urmand. 'Don't understand what? said Michel. The two lovers were still holding each other's hands; but Michel had not seen it; or, seeing it, had not observed it. 'Am I to understand that Marie Bromar is betrothed to me, or not? demanded Adrian.

Then Marie dispensed two more portions of soup, and leaving one on the farther table for the boy to serve, though she could well have brought the two, waited herself upon her uncle. 'And is Urmand to have no soup? said Michel Voss, as he took his niece lovingly by the hand. 'Peter is bringing it, said Marie. And in a moment or two Peter the waiter did bring the young man his soup.

'Uncle Michel, she said at last, speaking with much seriousness of purpose, and a dignity of person that was by no means thrown away upon him, 'if I am what you say, I had better go away from your house. I know I have been bad. I was bad to say that I would marry M. Urmand. I will not defend myself. But nothing on earth shall make me marry him.

And she was as convinced as ever she had been, that her uncle would never give his consent to a marriage between her and George Voss. As for George himself, he left her with an assured conviction that she was the promised bride of Adrian Urmand. The world seemed very hard to Marie Bromar when she was left alone.

'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. '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.

'But you sha'n't take it out in saying anything against Marie Bromar, not in my hearing. 'Why; what will you do? 'Don't drive me to do anything, M. Urmand. If there is any compensation possible 'Of course there must be compensation. 'What is it you will take? Is it money? 'Money; no. As for money, I'm better off than any of you. 'What is it, then? You don't want the girl herself?