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 accuracy--of 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.
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