day's work sullenly and in silence。
As to the capitaine it was all one to him。 He was a man of the
world。 He did not expect that he should really be preferred； con
amore； to a young fellow like Adolphe。 But he did expect that Marie；
like other girls； would do as she was bid； and that in a few days she
would regain her temper and be reconciled to her life。
And then the marriage was fixed for a very early day； for as La Mere
said； 〃What was the use of waiting？ All their minds were made up
now； and therefore the sooner the two were married the better。 Did
not the capitaine think so？〃
The capitaine said that he did think so。
And then Marie was asked。 It was all one to her； she said。 Whatever
Maman Bauche liked； that she would do； only she would not name a day
herself。 Indeed she would neither do nor say anything herself which
tended in any way to a furtherance of these matrimonials。 But then
she acquiesced； quietly enough if not readily； in what other people
did and said； and so the marriage was fixed for the day week after
Adolphe's return。
The whole of that week passed much in the same way。 The servants
about the place spoke among themselves of Marie's perverseness；
obstinacy； and ingratitude； because she would not look pleased； or
answer Madame Bauche's courtesies with gratitude； but La Mere herself
showed no signs of anger。 Marie had yielded to her； and she required
no more。 And she remembered also the harsh words she had used to
gain her purpose； and she reflected on all that Marie had lost。 On
these accounts she was forbearing and exacted nothingnothing but
that one sacrifice which was to be made in accordance to her wishes。
And it was made。 They were married in the great salon； the dining…
room； immediately after breakfast。 Madame Bauche was dressed in a
new puce silk dress； and looked very magnificent on the occasion。
She simpered and smiled； and looked gay even in spite of her
spectacles； and as the ceremony was being performed； she held fast
clutched in her hand the gold watch and chain which were intended for
Marie as soon as ever the marriage should be completed。
The capitaine was dressed exactly as usual； only that all his clothes
were new。 Madame Bauche had endeavoured to persuade him to wear a
blue coat； but he answered that such a change would not； he was sure；
be to Marie's taste。 To tell the truth； Marie would hardly have
known the difference had he presented himself in scarlet vestments。
Adolphe； however； was dressed very finely； but he did not make
himself prominent on the occasion。 Marie watched him closely； though
none saw that she did so； and of his garments she could have given an
account with much accuracyof his garments； ay！ and of every look。
〃Is he a man；〃 she said at last to herself； 〃that he can stand by and
see all this？〃
She too was dressed in silk。 They had put on her what they pleased；
and she bore the burden of her wedding finery without complaint and
without pride。 There was no blush on her face as she walked up to
the table at which the priest stood； nor hesitation in her low voice
as she made the necessary answers。 She put her hand into that of the
capitaine when required to do so； and when the ring was put on her
finger she shuddered； but ever so slightly。 No one observed it but
La Mere Bauche。 〃In one week she will be used to it； and then we
shall all be happy；〃 said La Mere to herself。 〃And I；I will be so
kind to her！〃
And so the marriage was completed； and the watch was at once given to
Marie。 〃Thank you； maman；〃 said she； as the trinket was fastened to
her girdle。 Had it been a pincushion that had cost three sous； it
would have affected her as much。
And then there was cake and wine and sweetmeats； and after a few
minutes Marie disappeared。 For an hour or so the capitaine was taken
up with the congratulating of his friends； and with the efforts
necessary to the wearing of his new honours with an air of ease； but
after that time he began to be uneasy because his wife did not come
to him。 At two or three in the afternoon he went to La Mere Bauche
to complain。 〃This lackadaisical nonsense is no good；〃 he said。 〃At
any rate it is too late now。 Marie had better come down among us and
show herself satisfied with her husband。〃
But Madame Bauche took Marie's part。 〃You must not be too hard on
Marie；〃 she said。 〃She has gone through a good deal this week past；
and is very young； whereas； capitaine； you are not very young。〃
The capitaine merely shrugged his shoulders。 In the mean time Mere
Bauche went up to visit her protegee in her own room； and came down
with a report that she was suffering from a headache。 She could not
appear at dinner； Madame Bauche said； but would make one at the
little party which was to be given in the evening。 With this the
capitaine was forced to be content。
The dinner therefore went on quietly without her； much as it did on
other ordinary days。 And then there was a little time for vacancy；
during which the gentlemen drank their coffee and smoked their cigars
at the cafe； talking over the event that had taken place that
morning； and the ladies brushed their hair and added some ribbon or
some brooch to their usual apparel。 Twice during this time did
Madame Bauche go up to Marie's room with offers to assist her。 〃Not
yet； maman； not quite yet；〃 said Marie piteously through her tears；
and then twice did the green spectacles leave the room； covering eyes
which also were not dry。 Ah！ what had she done？ What had she dared
to take upon herself to do？ She could not undo it now。
And then it became quite dark in the passages and out of doors； and
the guests assembled in the salon。 La Mere came in and out three or
four times； uneasy in her gait and unpleasant in her aspect； and
everybody began to see that things were wrong。 〃She is ill； I am
afraid；〃 said one。 〃The excitement has been too much；〃 said a
second； 〃and he is so old；〃 whispered a third。 And the capitaine
stalked about erect on his wooden leg； taking snuff； and striving to
look indifferent； but he also was uneasy in his mind。
Presently La Mere came in again； with a quicker step than before； and
whispered something； first to Adolphe and then to the capitaine；
whereupon they both followed her out of the room。
〃Not in her chamber；〃 said Adolphe。
〃Then she must be in yours；〃 said the capitaine。
〃She is in neither；〃 said La Mere Bauche； with her sternest voice；
〃nor is she in the house！〃
And now there was no longer an affectation of indifference on the
part of any of them。 They were anything but indifferent。 The
capitaine was eager in his demands that the matter should still be
kept secret from the guests。 She had always been romantic； he said；
and had now gone out to walk by the river side。 They three and the
old bath…man would go out and look for her。
〃But it is pitch dark；〃 said La Mere Bauche。
〃We will take lanterns；〃 said the capitaine。 And so they sallied
forth with creeping steps over the gravel； so that they might not be
heard by those within； and proceeded to search for the young wife。
〃Marie！ Marie！〃 said La Mere Bauche； in piteous accents； 〃do come to
me； pray do！〃
〃Hush！〃 said the capitaine。 〃They'll hear you if you call。〃 He
could not endure that the world should learn that a marriage with him
had been so distasteful to Marie Clavert。
〃Marie； dear Marie！〃 called Madame Bauche； louder than before； quite
regardless of the capitaine' s feelings； but no Marie answered。 In
her innermost heart now did La Mere Bauche wish that this cruel
marriage had been left undone。
Adolphe was foremost with his lamp； but he hardly dared to look in
the spot where he felt that it was most likely that she should have
taken refuge。 How could he meet her again； alone； in that grotto？
Yet he alone of the four was young。 It was clearly for him to
ascend。 〃Marie；〃 he shouted； 〃are you there？〃 as he slowly began the
long ascent of the steps。
But he had hardly begun to mount when a whirring sound struck his
ear； and he felt that the air near him was moved； and then there was
a crash upon the lower platform of rock； and a moan； repeated twice；
but so faintly； and a rustle of silk； and a slight struggle somewhere
as he knew within twenty paces of him； and then all was again quiet
and still in the night air。
〃What was that？〃 asked the capitaine in a hoarse voice。 He made his
way half across the little garden； and he also was within forty or
fifty yards of the flat rock。 But Adolphe was unable to answer him。
He had fainted and the lamp had fallen from his hands and rolled to
the bottom of the steps。
But the capitaine； though even his heart was all but quenched within
him； had still strength enough to make his way up to the rock； and
there； holding the lantern above his eyes； he saw all that was left
for him to see of his bride。
As for La Mere Bauche； she never again sat at the head of that
table；never again dictated to guests；never again laid down laws
for the management of any one。 A poor bedridden old woman； she lay
there in her house at Vernet for some seven tedious years； and then
was gathered to her fathers。
As for the capitainebut what matters？ He was made of sterner
stuff。 What matters either the fate of such a one as Adolphe Bauche？
End