'Adrian tells me that he asked you to take him as your lover, and
that you refused.'
'Yes, Uncle Michel.'
'But why, my dear? How are you to do better? Perhaps I, or your
aunt, should have spoken to you first, and told you that we thought
well of the match.'
'It wasn't that, uncle. I knew you thought well of it; or, at
least, I believed that you did.'
'And what is your objection, Marie?'
'I don't object to M. Urmand, uncle;--at least, not particularly.'
'But he says you do object. You would not accept him when he
offered himself.'
'No; I did not accept him.'
'But you will, my dear,--if he comes again?'
'No, uncle.'
'And why not? Is he not a good young man?'
'O, yes,--that is, I daresay.'
'And he has a good business. I do not know what more you could
expect.'
'I expect nothing, uncle,--except not to go away from you.'
'Ah,--but you must go away from me. I should be very wrong, and so
would your aunt, to let you remain here till you lose your good
looks, and become an old woman on our hands.
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