he also ascended to the grotto。
Marie had watched him from the top； but so that she herself should
not be seen。 He however had not once lifted up his head to look for
her； but with eyes turned to the ground had plodded his way up to the
cave。 When he entered she was standing in the middle； with her eyes
downcast and her hands clasped before her。 She had retired some way
from the wall； so that no eyes might possibly see her but those of
her false lover。 There she stood when he entered； striving to stand
motionless； but trembling like a leaf in every limb。
It was only when he reached the top step that he made up his mind how
he would behave。 Perhaps after all； the capitaine was right； perhaps
she would not mind it。
〃Marie；〃 said he； with a voice that attempted to be cheerful； 〃this
is an odd place to meet in after such a long absence；〃 and he held
out his hand to her。 But only his hand！ He offered her no salute。
He did not even kiss her cheek as a brother would have done！ Of the
rules of the outside world it must be remembered that poor Marie knew
but little。 He had been a brother to her before he had become her
lover。
But Marie took his hand saying； 〃Yes； it has been very long。〃
〃And now that I have come back；〃 he went on to say； 〃it seems that we
are all in a confusion together。 I never knew such a piece of work。
However； it is all for the best； I suppose。〃
〃Perhaps so；〃 said Marie； still trembling violently； and still
looking upon the ground。 And then there was silence between them for
a minute or so。
〃I tell you what it is； Marie；〃 said Adolphe at last； dropping her
hand and making a great effort to get through the work before him。
〃I am afraid we two have been very foolish。 Don't you think we have
now？ It seems quite clear that we can never get ourselves married。
Don't you see it in that light？〃
Marie's head turned round and round with her； but she was not of the
fainting order。 She took three steps backwards and leant against the
wall of the cave。 She also was trying to think how she might best
fight her battle。 Was there no chance for her？ Could no eloquence；
no love prevail？ On her own beauty she counted but little； but might
not prayers do something； and a reference to those old vows which had
been so frequent； so eager； so solemnly pledged between them？
〃Never get ourselves married！〃 she said； repeating his words。
〃Never； Adolphe？ Can we never be married？〃
〃Upon my word； my dear girl； I fear not。 You see my mother is so
dead against it。〃
〃But we could wait； could we not？〃
〃Ah； but that's just it； Marie。 We cannot wait。 We must decide
now；to…day。 You see I can do nothing without money from herand
as for you； you see she won't even let you stay in the house unless
you marry old Campan at once。 He's a very good sort of fellow
though； old as he is。 And if you do marry him； why you see you'll
stay here； and have it all your own way in everything。 As for me； I
shall come and see you all from time to time； and shall be able to
push my way as I ought to do。〃
〃Then； Adolphe； you wish me to marry the capitaine？〃
〃Upon my honour I think it is the best thing you can do； I do
indeed。〃
〃Oh； Adolphe！〃
〃What can I do for you； you know？ Suppose I was to go down to my
mother and tell her that I had decided to keep you myself； what would
come of it？ Look at it in that light； Marie。〃
〃She could not turn you outyou her own son！〃
〃But she would turn you out； and deuced quick； too； I can assure you
of that； I can； upon my honour。〃
〃I should not care that；〃 and she made a motion with her hand to show
how indifferent she would be to such treatment as regarded herself。
〃Not that； if I still had the promise of your love。〃
〃But what would you do？〃
〃I would work。 There are other houses beside that one；〃 and she
pointed to the slate roof of the Bauche establishment。
〃And for meI should not have a penny in the world；〃 said the young
man。
She came up to him and took his right hand between both of hers and
pressed it warmly； oh； so warmly。 〃You would have my love；〃 said
she； 〃my deepest； warmest best heart's love should want nothing more；
nothing on earth； if I could still have yours。〃 And she leaned
against his shoulder and looked with all her eyes into his face。
〃But； Marie； that's nonsense； you know。〃
〃No； Adolphe； it is not nonsense。 Do not let them teach you so。
What does love mean； if it does not mean that？ Oh； Adolphe； you do
love me； you do love me； you do love me？〃
〃Yes；I love you；〃 he said slowly；as though he would not have said
it； if he could have helped it。 And then his arm crept slowly round
her waist； as though in that also he could not help himself。
〃And do not I love you？〃 said the passionate girl。 〃Oh； I do； so
dearly； with all my heart； with all my soul。 Adolphe； I so love you；
that I cannot give you up。 Have I not sworn to be yours； sworn；
sworn a thousand times？ How can I marry that man！ Oh Adolphe how
can you wish that I should marry him？〃 And she clung to him； and
looked at him； and besought him with her eyes。
〃I shouldn't wish it；only〃 and then he paused。 It was hard to
tell her that he was willing to sacrifice her to the old man because
he wanted money from his mother。
〃Only what！ But Adolphe； do not wish it at all！ Have you not sworn
that I should be your wife？ Look here； look at this；〃 and she
brought out from her bosom a little charm that he had given her in
return for that cross。 〃Did you not kiss that when you swore before
the figure of the Virgin that I should be your wife？ And do you not
remember that I feared to swear too； because your mother was so
angry； and then you made me？ After that； Adolphe！ Oh； Adolphe！
Tell me that I may have some hope。 I will wait； oh； I will wait so
patiently。〃
He turned himself away from her and walked backwards and forwards
uneasily through the grotto。 He did love her；love her as such men
do love sweet； pretty girls。 The warmth of her hand； the affection
of her touch； the pure bright passion of her tear…laden eye had re…
awakened what power of love there was within him。 But what was he to
do？ Even if he were willing to give up the immediate golden hopes
which his mother held out to him； how was he to begin； and then how
carry out this work of self…devotion？ Marie would be turned away；
and he would be left a victim in the hands of his mother； and of that
stiff； wooden…legged militaire；a penniless victim； left to mope
about the place without a grain of influence or a morsel of pleasure。
〃But what can we do？〃 he exclaimed again； as he once more met Marie's
searching eye。
〃We can be true and honest； and we can wait；〃 she said； coming close
up to him and taking hold of his arm。 〃I do not fear it； and she is
not my mother； Adolphe。 You need not fear your own mother。〃
〃Fear！ no； of course I don't fear。 But I don't see how the very
devil we can manage it。〃
〃Will you let me tell her that I will not marry the capitaine； that I
will not give up your promises； and then I am ready to leave the
house？〃
〃It would do no good。〃
〃It would do every good； Adolphe； if I had your promised word once
more； if I could hear from your own voice one more tone of love。 Do
you not remember this place？ It was here that you forced me to say
that I loved you。 It is here also that you will tell me that I have
been deceived。〃
〃It is not I that would deceive you；〃 he said。 〃I wonder that you
should be so hard upon me。 God knows that I have trouble enough。〃
〃Well； if I am a trouble to you； be it so。 Be it as you wish；〃 and
she leaned back against the wall of the rock； and crossing her arms
upon her breast looked away from him and fixed her eyes upon the
sharp granite peaks of Canigou。
He again betook himself to walk backwards and forwards through the
cave。 He had quite enough of love for her to make him wish to marry
her； quite enough now； at this moment； to make the idea of her
marriage with the capitaine very distasteful to him； enough probably
to make him become a decently good husband to her； should fate enable
him to marry her； but not enough to enable him to support all the
punishment which would be the sure effects of his mother's
displeasure。 Besides； he had promised his mother that he would give
up Marie；had entirely given in his adhesion to that plan of the
marriage with the capitaine。 He had owned that the path of life as
marked out for him by his mother was the one which it behoved him； as
a man； to follow。 It was this view of his duties as a man which had
I been specially urged on him with all the capitaine's eloquence。
And old Campan had entirely succeeded。 It is so easy to get the
assent of such young men； so weak in mind and so weak in pocket； when
the arguments are backed by a promise of two thousand francs a year。
〃I'll tell you what I'll do；〃 at last he said。 〃I'll get my mother
by herself； and will ask her to let the matter remain as it is for
the present。〃
〃Not if it be a trouble； M。 Adolphe；〃 and the proud girl still held
her hands upon her bosom； and still looked towards the mountain。
〃You know what I mean； Marie。 You can understand how she and the
capitaine are worrying me。〃
〃But tell me； Adolphe； do you love me？〃
〃You know I love you； only。〃
〃And you will not give me up？〃
〃I will ask my mother。 I will try and make her yield。〃
Marie could not feel that she received much confidence from her
lover's promise； but still； even that； weak and unsteady as it was；
even that was better than absolute fixed rejection。 So she thanked
him； promised him with tears in her eyes that she would always；
always be faithful to him； and then bade him go down to the house。
She would follow； she said； as soon as his passing had ceased to be
observed。
Then she looked at him as though she expected some sign of renewed
love。 But no such sign was vouchsafed to her。 Now that she thirsted
for the touch of his lip upon her check； it was denied to her。 He
did as she bade him； he went down； slowly loitering； by himself； and
in about half an hour she followed him； and unobserved crept to her
chamber。
Again we wi