. Now her own friends were not grand enough to be
bidden to the feast. But M. Andre's well supplied their place. We,
however, were permitted to look on--to cheer, huzza, and wish them both
joy.

Her mother's house was too small for her to be married from. She was
taken to the Mairie by her second spouse from the house of one of his
relatives; and, in her white dress and veil, she looked more dazzlingly
lovely than any woman I had ever seen.

After the ceremonial at the church, there was a _dejeuner_, to which all
the best people of Benevent were invited. The newly married pair were
to spend their honeymoon at a chateau of M. Andre's, some three leagues
from Benevent, in the hills, overlooking the sea. A carriage and pair
of horses, with a postilion in a gay jacket, waited to take them there.
Bound the carriage, on the footway and in the road, was a crowd of
people, curious to see all that there was to be seen, and desirous of
giving bride and bridegroom "God-speed!" when they drove off.

I passed the place by accident, for I had not intended to be there. I
had taken my stout stick in my hand, meaning to try a walk up the hills,
by the coach road.

By chance I had passed the house where the bride and bridegroom were
breakfasting. By chance I had found myself one of the crowd. A crowd
impresses upon one its sympathies. I loitered among them--not long;--
long enough to see a man, with a beard and tanned face, hurriedly asking
some questions. I could not get near him for the people. Then, as
hurriedly, he strode away, with great, heavy strides.

The face I did not know--I had caught but a hurried glance of it; but
the broad shoulders, the strong limbs, the walk of the man, I did know.

A terrible feeling came over me.

My knees trembled under me.

My face was white as paper.

I could have fallen to the ground.

For I knew the walk was the walk of Marc!

And these three years he had been dead!

With the emotions called forth by this untimely apparition, do you
suppose that I remained in the crowd in the narrow street?--that I
desired to "huzza!" as M. Andre and Cecile drove away? I was stifled.
I wanted air--to breathe--to breathe! I sought it, by turning my steps
to the hills as fast as my trembling limbs would carry me.

It was the road he had taken.

Should I see him again?

I gathered strength. I walked fast--faster. I ran till I was out of
breath. I stopped and sat down on a great