'I never do speak to anybody,' said Marie. 'I have got something to think of instead of talking to the people. How would the things go, if I took to talking to the people, and left everything to that little goose, Peter? Uncle Michel is unreasonable,--and unkind.' 'He means to do the best by you in his power. He wants to treat you just as though you were his daughter.' 'Then let him leave me alone. I don't want anything to be done. If I were his daughter he would not grudge me permission to stop at home in his house. I don't want anything else. I have never complained.' 'But, my dear, it is time that you should be settled in the world.' 'I am settled. I don't want any other settlement,--if they will only let me alone.' 'Marie,' said Madame Voss after a short pause, 'I sometimes think that you still have got George Voss in your head.' 'Is it that, Aunt Josey, that makes my uncle go on like this?' asked Marie. 'You do not answer me, child.' 'I do not know what answer you want. When George was here, I hardly spoke to him. If Uncle Michel is afraid of me, I will give him my solemn promise never to marry any one without his permission.' 'George Voss will never come back for you,' said Madame Voss. 'He will come when I ask him,' said Marie, flashing round upon her aunt with all the fire of her bright eyes. 'Does any one say that I have done anything to bring him to me? If so, it is false, whoever says it. I have done nothing. He has gone away, and let him stay. I shall not send for him. Uncle Michel need not be afraid of me, because of George.' By this time Marie was speaking almost in a fury of passion, and her aunt was almost subdued by her. 'Nobody is afraid of you, Marie,' she said. 'Nobody need be. If they will let me alone, I will do no harm to any one.' 'But, Marie, you would wish to be married some day.' 'Why should I wish to be married? If I liked him, I would take him, but I don't. O, Aunt Josey, I thought you would be my friend!' 'I cannot be your friend, Marie, if you oppose your uncle. He has done everything for you, and he must know best what is good for you. There can be no reason against M. Urmand, and if you persist in being so unruly, he will only think that it is because you want George to come back for you.' 'I care nothing for George,' said Marie, as she left the room; 'nothing at all--nothing.'