Adolphe, however, was dressed very finely, but he did not make
himself prominent on the occasion. Marie watched him closely, though
none saw that she did so; and of his garments she could have given an
account with much accuracy--of his garments, ay! and of every look.
"Is he a man," she said at last to herself, "that he can stand by and
see all this?"

She too was dressed in silk. They had put on her what they pleased,
and she bore the burden of her wedding finery without complaint and
without pride. There was no blush on her face as she walked up to
the table at which the priest stood, nor hesitation in her low voice
as she made the necessary answers. She put her hand into that of the
capitaine when required to do so; and when the ring was put on her
finger she shuddered, but ever so slightly. No one observed it but
La Mere Bauche. "In one week she will be used to it, and then we
shall all be happy," said La Mere to herself. "And I,--I will be so
kind to her!"

And so the marriage was completed, and the watch was at once given to
Marie. "Thank you, maman," said she, as the trinket was fastened to
her girdle. Had it been a pincushion that had cost three sous, it
would have affected her as much.

And then there was cake and wine and sweetmeats; and after a few
minutes Marie disappeared. For an hour or so the capitaine was taken
up with the congratulating of his friends, and with the efforts
necessary to the wearing of his new honours with an air of ease; but
after that time he began to be uneasy because his wife did not come
to him. At two or three in the afternoon he went to La Mere Bauche
to complain. "This lackadaisical nonsense is no good," he said. "At