Summary

In Chapter 9, Madeleine Forestier returns to Paris. She summons Georges to her home and tells him that she accepts his proposal. She begs Georges to change his surname to Du Roy de Cantel to sound more aristocratic. He agrees to do so gradually, first by adopting it as his nom de plume on the journal. Georges breaks the news to Clotilde, who weeps when she finds out about it. Georges claims that he wishes he was marrying her instead. Once Georges and Madeleine are married, they visit his parents in Canteleu. Madeleine is clearly uncomfortable among the peasants, who remind her of her own peasant mother. She knows little about her mother, except that she was a governess. She was never told who her father was, but she has her suspicions. They stay only one night before Madeleine begs Georges to return to...