Therefore Madame Voss yielded,
and comforted herself by an assurance that as the best was being
done for Marie, she need not subject herself to her husband's
displeasure by contradiction or interference.
Michel Voss himself said little or nothing to his niece at this
time. She had yielded to him, making him a promise that she would
endeavour to accede to his wishes, and he felt that he was bound in
honour not to trouble her farther, unless she should show herself to
be disobedient when the moment of trial came. He was not himself at
ease, he was not comfortable at heart, because he knew that Marie
was avoiding him. Though she would still stand behind his chair at
supper,--when for a moment she would be still,--she did not put her
hands upon his head, nor did she speak to him more than the nature
of her service required. Twice he tried to induce her to sit with
them at table, as though to show that her position was altered now
that she was about to become a bride; but he was altogether
powerless to effect any such change as this.
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