'Well;--well;--what then? Of course, it is only reasonable that you should be married some day. Here is a young man in a better way of business than any man, old or young, that comes into Granpere. He has a house in Basle, and money to put in it whatever you want. And for the matter of that, Marie, my niece shall not go away from me empty-handed.' She drew herself closer to him and took hold of his arm and pressed it, and looked up into his face. 'I brought nothing with me,' she said, 'and I want to take nothing away.' 'Is that it?' he said, speaking rapidly. 'Let me tell you then, my girl, that you shall have nothing but your earnings,--your fair earnings. Don't you take trouble about that. Urmand and I will settle that between us, and I will go bail there shall be no unpleasant words. As I said before, my girl sha'n't leave my house empty-handed; but, Lord bless you, he would only be too happy to take you in your petticoat, just as you are. I never saw a fellow more in love with a girl. Come, Marie, you need not mind saying the word to me, though you could not bring yourself to say it to him.' 'I can't say that word, uncle, either to you or to him.' 'And why the devil not?' said Michel Voss, who was beginning to be tired of being eloquent. 'I would rather stay at home with you and my aunt.' 'O, bother!' 'Some girls stay at home always. All girls do not get married. I don't want to be taken to Basle.' 'This is all nonsense,' said Michel, getting up. 'If you're a good girl, you will do as you are told.' 'It would not be good to be married to a man if I do not love him.' 'But why shouldn't you love him? He's just the man that all the girls always love. Why don't you love him?' As Michel Voss asked this last question, there was a tone of anger in his voice. He had allowed his niece considerable liberty, and now she was unreasonable. Marie, who, in spite of her devotion to her uncle, was beginning to think that she was ill-used by this tone, made no reply. 'I hope you haven't been falling in love with any one else,' continued Michel. 'No,' said Marie, in a low whisper. 'I do hope you're not still thinking of George, who has left us without casting a thought upon you. I do hope that you are not such a fool as that.' Marie sat perfectly silent, not moving; but there was a frown on her brow and a look of sorrow mixed with anger on her face. But Michel Voss did not see her face. He looked straight before him as he spoke, and was flinging chips of wood to a distance in his energy. 'If it's that, Marie, I tell you you had better get quit of it at once. It can come to no good. Here is an excellent husband for you. Be a good girl, and say that you will accept him.' 'I should not be a good girl to accept a man whom I do not love.'