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'Then that would put oft the marriage to the following
Monday? "
"Yes."
This did not at all suit M. Lescallc's views. To wait till Mon-
day was to leave Mise Mede, wlio was to arrive on Wednesday
night, the eve of the day fixed for the civil marriage, lor four
flays longer to cry with and over Rose, and perhaps stir her up
to resistance That would never do.
Suddenly a bright thought struck the notary's mind.
'
When do you go? ''
he asked the Mayor.
"
Wednesday evening."
"Then, how would it he if Instead ot postponing the marriage,
we were to fix on Wednesday, instead ot Thursday morn
ingfor the ceremony at the Mairie? Would that be inconvenient
to you? "
"
Not in the least."
" You can arrange for Wednesday? "
"Perfectly."
" Well, then, I think we shall settle upon that. I shall go at
persons in this country, whatever might be their own religion.
But simpler and yet more dry is the purely civil ceremony
which in France seals, in the eye of the law, the contract link-
ing together for ever two human destinies. It seems so easy to
write one's name at the bottom of the page of a register, and to
prayer, without reason, without guidance, into nn indissoluble
union, the holiest of earthly vocations when sanctified by religion,
the dreariest of bondages when unblest by human love and
unsusta'ined by the grace of the sacrament?
to iU
But youth is thoughtless; it attaches little importance
Marriage in Ili^h Lif."
THE NOTARY -H DAl'UUTUK.
own acts; it is prone to hope blindly, and hope makes it carriers
The only undying recollections connected vvitu tin
ceremony, our French iiullr
service which consecrates it
'
' Who
she. asks '
jcur
the Murie where they signed their names? Who evei !'
the altar where they receive the blessing ot the pri'
Whatever may have been the inward strugg,es 01 secret do
spoudency of George de Vcdeues and Rose Lescalle they made
no remark and offered no opposition when their respective par-
ents informed them ot the day fixed upon tor their marriage
As to Rose she had been hourly expecting to hear from her
Aunt Mede whose continued and unaccountable silence was a
perttct mystery to her. On the eve of the day faxed upon for
the marriage, M. Lescalle called his daughter into liis study
'
" Here is a letter for you, Rosette,' he said. a letter from your
'
took the
Aunt Mede.
Rose made a joyful exclamation, eagerly
letter, and carried it to her room, opened it with a beating heart,
and read as follows :
1 '
once and arrange it with M do Vedelies.
" How will it be about Mdlle. Mode's arrival? Can you get her
here in time? "
"Oh, I dare say she will be here before Wednesday: we can
write to her, you know; but if by any chance she did not come
ID time for your part of the business. M le Maire, she would be
present at the religious function, which will take place on Thursday
That, you know, is the chief thing in my Aunt Mede's
eyes."
This change of days ensured the desired MANO8Q0E, Sunday.
My
object. Aunt Mede
would not arrive before Rose's fate was fixed, and this was a
Beloved Rosette T am delighted to hear of your marriage
with M. de Vedelies. His mother is so good that I am sure her
son must be good too, and if he is not yet everything we could
wish in one respect, 1 feel sure that time and your influence will
work a great change in him.
I shall arrive at La Ciotat early on Thursday morning. You
can reckon upon me, my darling. Your old aunt will be near
you at that happy and important moment, dear Rosette, and join
her earnest prayers for your happiness to the blessing of the
Church. A revoir soon, my dear child.
I remain your affectionate aunt,
MEDE LESCALLE.
great relief to M. Lescalle.
Mise Mede had been rather surprised that such short notice
had bceu given her of the day of the marriage. She had only
been left just time to arrive in time. Her old relative had been
getting better for the last fortnight. She took an affectionate
leav of him, and then, with a heart as light as a young girl's
she began her homeward journey, full of joy at the idea of Rose's
happiness. As she traveled from Manosque to Marseilles, and
then to La Ciotat, the most delightful illusions occupied her
mind.
CHAPTER XIII.
THE CIVIL MARRIAGE.
" Few are the words which, once read over, totally change our
existence and fix our fate in life for ever."*
This was written by an English authoress fifty years ago, when
the Anglican service was the only valid form of This, then, was the final blow to Rose's hopes! This the answer
to her impassioned pleadings. Aunt Mede actually rejoiced
at her marriage,
marriage for all
and satisfied herself with hopes of a change in
the one respect in which it did not seem to her completely satis-
"
factory. Time and my influence!" Rose ejaculated with bit
'
"
terness. Wili they change a fool into a sensible man?
But this last disappointment, if severe, entirely deprived Ler
of all energy. She saw no option but to submit with a dull, sad
resignation.
On Wednesday morning the Comte de Vedelies' carriage,
driven by a coachman in full livery, passed through the streets
of La Ciotat, and attracted to their doors all the inhabitants of
the little town It stopped before the door of the Mairie, and
all the family got out, Jacques first, in his best looks, smiling
and gracious, and then George, pale and pensive, but without
any of that feverish agitation he had shown during the previous
week Whether from indifference, or from- self-command, nothing
could be more simple and dignified than his manner F.\ rry
one was surprised. Those who did not know hirrcluul expected
to see quite a different sort of person, and even his relatives were
astonished at his composure.
The Lescalle family arrived shortly
afterwards. Madame
Lescalle did not attempt to conceal her self-complacent feelings.
Her eyes glanced with a triumphant expression round the room.
The notary tried to assume a commanding appearance. ROM-.
though her eyes were red, behaved very well. Her mother had
told her of the report in the town, that she was breaking her
give a monosyllabic answer to the question put to one by a gentleman
in black, after reading aloud a string of official sentences.
The only valid part of the great act culled marriage which the
law takes cognizance of, is now nothing more than a simple formality.
Oh, if young people thought more of what they were
doing, if they considered the irrevocable nature of those easily
uttered words, of that signature so lightly given, would they
not oftencr hesitate in following the impules of their own impetuous
self-will, or yielding too easily to the persuasions of
others? Would they not be more afraid of rushing, without
heart for Artemon Richer, and this had put heron her mettle.
She was resolved that nothing in her looks or manner should
countenance this supposition.
Then M. le Maire came in. and stood behind the long table,
covered with green cloth, which, with sonic wooden bcneh<
two wicker arm-chairs, furnished the room. Wearing his red
official scarf round bis thin figure, mid with the bust of King
Louis Philippe, in white plaster, forming :i background to his
mild and intelligent countenance, he proceeded to perform the
ceremony.
All those concerned in it felt at that moment a sort of uneasiness,
and a rather troublesome sense of having taken upon them-
selves a serious ri sponsibility. Georgeand Rose, though the sad-
dest ef ths party, were probably more peaceful at heart than