"
Marie sat still, stunned by the harshness of these words. La Mere
Bauche had often scolded her; indeed, she was given to much scolding;
but she had scolded her as a mother may scold a child. And when this
story of Marie's love first reached her ears, she had been very
angry; but her anger had never brought her to such a pass as this.
Indeed, Marie had not hitherto been taught to look at the matter in
this light. No one had heretofore twitted her with eating the bread
of charity. It had not occurred to her that on this account she was
unfit to be Adolphe's wife. There, in that valley, they were all so
nearly equal, that no idea of her own inferiority had ever pressed
itself upon her mind. But now--!
When the voice ceased she again looked at him; but it was no longer a
beseeching look. Did he also altogether scorn her? That was now the
inquiry which her eyes were called upon to make. No; she could not
say that he did. It seemed to her that his energies were chiefly
occupied in pulling to pieces the tassel on the sofa cushion.
"And now, miss, let me know at once whether this nonsense is to be
over or not," continued La Mere Bauche; "and I will tell you at once,
I am not going to maintain you here, in my house, to plot against our
welfare and happiness.
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