At times melancholy thoughts oppressed me. I was not in love with the woman I was about to marry, and I felt that it was the absence of love that made us walk so carelessly toward the altar. Love, who charms the present and embellishes the future, is a god whose presence is most essential on the wedding day; he ought always to preside on such occasions. However, I proposed to do without him; indeed, I must, for whom could I love now? I should have ceased to think of _her_, but I still thought of her. She did not love me; and if she had loved me, could I have married her? It would have been madness; but is the madness which makes one happy so very blameworthy? I felt tears in my eyes. Was that the proper way to begin that day? It was my last thought of her. Henceforth I would never think of the past. I must try to be light-hearted, to be amiable with Pélagie. Amiable! she would not notice it! But, no matter; I must forget myself. My sister was the first who entered my room. I fancy that she noticed my depression; she kissed me and embraced me, and assured me that I should be very happy. "God grant it!" I thought. "Thus far I have not been happy in love; perhaps I shall be in marriage." I overcame my weakness and was myself once more. Poor Amélie! she was so pleased when she saw me smile! By the way, where were my wife and I to live? I had not given that matter a thought; but I was not at all disturbed, for my sister had undertaken to look out for everything, and she was not the woman to forget anything so important. However, I felt that I should be very glad to know where I was to take my better half that night. "You haven't told me yet, sister, where I am to live." "That goes without saying, my dear." "Nevertheless, you will have to tell me, for I can't guess." "Has not Madame de Pontchartrain a magnificent house, of which she occupies only one-half? You are to live there with your wife." "At her aunt's? I don't like that very much." "Don't be disturbed; your suite is by itself, and a long way from hers; you need have nothing to say to each other, except when you please. I knew, of course, that you would like to be by yourself, and I have had everything arranged with that end in view." "All right.--By the way, has Pélagie received all the usual gifts?" "Yes, my dear; have you forgotten that I showed them to you yesterday and told you Déneterre had spent three thousand francs out of the money you gave him?" "True; it had gone out of my head." "Pélagie will be enchanted, I assure you. There's a beautiful set of jewelry--and shawls--and dress materials." "Very good; so, then, there's nothing for me to do to-day but to get married?" "Mon Dieu! that's all, my dear." "So much the better. What time is it to be?" "At eleven o'clock you are to call for your wife and take her to the mayor's office. We shall have two carriages; I have ordered them." "Two carriages! it seems to me that's very few."