Unusual circumstances and extraordinary excitement often cause the customary rules and practices of life to be abandoned; and so it was now.  Marie received the love that was offered her, frankly, affectionately, and with her whole heart.  She owned to her lover how well and truly she had loved him, and there, before her brother and his wife, plighted to him her troth, and promised to him then the obedience and love, which she soon hoped to owe him as his wife.  Such declarations are usually made in private, but the friends now assembled had no secrets from each other, and they all felt that strange times made strange scenes necessary.

They then arranged their plans for the morrow.  The day had already been an eventful one, but they little dreamed how much more was to be done before the morrow’s sun was in the heavens; and yet even then they did not separate for the night:  luckily for them all, they determined that too much was to be done to allow them yet to retire to rest.

It was resolved that on the following day they should leave Clisson for Durbelliere, and hand over the chateau and all it contained—­the farm and all its well-filled granaries, the cattle and agricultural wealth of the estate, to the fire and plunder of the republicans.  The plate, however, they thought they could save, as well as the ladies’ jewels and clothes, and other precious things which might be quickly packed and easily moved.  They went to work at once to fill their trunks and baskets; and as the means of conveyance were then slow, de Lescure went out into the stables, and had the waggon prepared at once, and ordered that the oxen which were to draw it should be ready to start at three o’clock, in order that the load, if possible, might reach Durbelliere the same night.

Master and mistress, servants and guests, worked hard, and at about two o’clock, the hour at which Westerman and his troop were starting for their quick ride, they had completed their task.

“You have killed yourself, dearest love,” said Henri, pressing his arm round Marie’s waist.

“Oh, no!” said she, smiling, but still so weary that she could hardly have stood unless he had held her; “I have not fought and conquered ten thousand republicans; but I don’t know how you must feel.”

Henri, however, insisted that she should go to bed and she, delighted to show her first act of obedience to his will, did as he desired her.  She was soon undressed; she offered her prayers to heaven for her brother and sister-in-law, but with a stronger fervour for the dear companion and protector to whom she had sworn to devote her life, and then she laid her head upon her pillow, intending to think over her happiness; a few moments, however, were sufficient to change her half fearful thoughts of love and danger into blessed dreams of love and happiness.  Poor girl! she did not long enjoy her happy rest.

De Lescure and Henri determined to remain up till the departure of the waggon.  Madame de Lescure went up to. her room, and the two gentlemen went down towards the farmyard.  The waggon stood at the kitchen-door already packed, and the two servants were bringing the oxen down the road to yoke them to it.