But it was not a part of Marie’s programme to be waked up to enthusiasm—­at any rate by her aunt.  She said little or nothing, and would not even condescend to consider that interesting question, of the day of the wedding.  ’There is quite time enough for all that, Aunt Josey,’ she said, as she got up to go about her work.  Aunt Josey was almost inclined to resent such usage, and would have done so, had not her respect for her niece been so great.

Michel did not return till near seven, and walking straight through his wife’s room to Marie’s seat of office, came upon his niece before he had seen any one else.  There was an angry look about his brow, for he had been trying to teach himself that he was ill-used by his niece, in spite of that half-formed resolution to release her from persecution if she were still firm in her opposition to the marriage.  ‘Well,’ he said, as soon as he saw her,—­’well, how is it to be?’ She got off her stool, and coming close to him put up her face to be kissed.  He understood it all in a moment, and the whole tone and colour of his countenance was altered.  There was no man whose face would become more radiant with satisfaction than that of Michel Voss—­when he was satisfied.  Please him—­and immediately there would be an effort on his part to please everybody around him.  ‘My darling, my own one,’ he said, ‘it is all right.’  She kissed him again and pressed his arm, but said not a word.  ‘I am so glad,’ he exclaimed; ‘I am so glad!’ And he knocked off his cap with his hand, not knowing what he was doing.  ’We shall have but a poor house without you, Marie—­a very poor house.  But it is as it ought to be.  I have felt for the last year or two, as you have sprung up to be such a woman among us, my dear, that there was only one place fit for such a one.  It is proper that you should be mistress wherever you are.  It has wounded me—­I don’t mind saying it now—­it has wounded me to see you waiting on the sort of people that come here.’

‘I have only been too happy, uncle, in doing it.’

’That’s all very well; that’s all very well, my dear.  But I am older than you, and time goes quick with me.  I tell you it made me unhappy.  I thought I wasn’t doing my duty by you.  I was beginning to know that you ought to have a house and servants of your own.  People say that it is a great match for you; but I tell them that it is a great match for him.  Perhaps it is because you’ve been my own in a way, but I don’t see any girl like you round the country.’

‘You shouldn’t say such things to flatter me, Uncle Michel.’