And then they all went to breakfast with many signs of outward joy.
And not without some inward joy; for Madame Bauche thought she saw
that her son was cured of his love. In the mean time Marie sat up
stairs still afraid to show herself.
"He has come," said a young girl, a servant in the house, running up
to the door of Marie's room.
"Yes," said Marie; "I could see that he has come."
"And, oh, how beautiful he is!" said the girl, putting her hands
together and looking up to the ceiling. Marie in her heart of hearts
wished that he was not half so beautiful, as then her chance of
having him might be greater.
"And the company are all talking to him as though he were the
prefet," said the girl.
"Never mind who is talking to him," said Marie; "go away, and leave
me--you are wanted for your work." Why before this was he not
talking to her? Why not, if he were really true to her? Alas, it
began to fall upon her mind that he would be false! And what then?
What should she do then? She sat still gloomily, thinking of that
other spouse that had been promised to her.
As speedily after breakfast as was possible Adolphe was invited to a
conference in his mother's private room.
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