e mine--mine
rather than his! I will make him understand this, you shall see. Where
is he? Where can I find him?"

Already he was starting to go, he knew not where. Marie-Anne caught him
by the arm.

"Remain," she commanded, "remain! So you have failed to understand me,
Maurice. Ah, well! you must know the truth. I am acquainted now with the
reasons of my father's refusal; and though his decision should cost me
my life, I approve it. Do not go to find my father. If, moved by your
prayers, he gave his consent, I should have the courage to refuse mine!"

Maurice was so beside himself that this reply did not enlighten him.
Crazed with anger and despair, and with no remorse for the insult he
addressed to this woman whom he loved so deeply, he exclaimed:

"Is it for Chanlouineau, then, that you are reserving your consent? He
believes so since he goes about everywhere saying that you will soon be
his wife."

Marie-Anne shuddered as if a knife had entered her very heart; and yet
there was more sorrow than anger in the glance she cast upon Maurice.

"Must I stoop so low as to defend myself from such an imputation?" she
asked, sadly. "Must I declare that if even I suspect such an arrangement
between Chanlouineau and my father, I have not been consulted? Must I
tell you that there are some sacrifices which are beyond the strength
of poor human nature? Understand this: I have found strength to renounce
the man I love--I shall never be able to accept another in his place!"

Maurice hung his head, abashed by her earnest words, dazzled by the
sublime expression of her face.

Reason returned; he realized the enormity of his suspicions, and was
horrified with himself for having dared to give utterance to them.

"Oh! pardon!" he faltered, "pardon!"

What did the mysterious causes of all these events which had so rapidly
succeeded each other, or M. Lacheneur's secrets, or Marie-Anne's
reticence, matter to him now?

He was seeking some chance of salvation; he believed that he had found
it.

"We must fly!" he exclaimed: "fly at once without pausing to look back.
Before night we shall have passed the frontier."

He sprang toward her with outstretched arms, as if to seize her and bear
her away; but she checked him by a single look.

"Fly!" said she, reproachfully; "fly! and is it you, Maurice, who
counsel me thus? What! while misfortune is crushing my poor father to
the earth, shall I add despair and shame to his sorrows? Hi