And thus
ended the first day of Adolphe Bauche's return to his own house.
On the next morning the capitaine and Marie were formally betrothed.
This was done with some little ceremony, in the presence of all the
guests who were staying at the establishment, and with all manner of
gracious acknowledgments of Marie's virtues. It seemed as though La
Mere Bauche could not be courteous enough to her. There was no more
talk of her being a child of charity; no more allusion now to the
gutter. La Mere Bauche with her own hand brought her cake with a
glass of wine after her betrothal was over, and patted her on the
cheek, and called her her dear little Marie Campan. And then the
capitaine was made up of infinite politeness, and the guests all
wished her joy, and the servants of the house began to perceive that
she was a person entitled to respect. How different was all this
from that harsh attack that was made on her the preceding evening!
Only Adolphe,--he alone kept aloof. Though he was present there he
said nothing. He, and he only, offered no congratulations.
In the midst of all these gala doings Marie herself said little or
nothing. La Mere Bauche perceived this, but she forgave it.
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