e two men returned to the parlour. Adele was a long, very
long time in putting away the supper things.

Her father noticed this, and when she entered the parlour, he
remarked: "You've been long enough."

"Provided she has not been too long," put in his nephew, trying to
win his cousin's good will.

After one of the most miserable evenings that Adele had ever spent,
Tom took leave of the family.

When he was fairly out of the way, Adele ventured to ask her father
what he had come for.

"He came to see us," he replied, then, after a pause, he added
abruptly: "Have you ever thought of marrying?"

"I, marry! you forget that I am but a child."

"A child! why, you will soon be of age."

There was a deep silence for a time, then the father spoke: "Mr.
Soher (emphasizing the Mr.) is a nice young man. He means to ask
your hand when he is better acquainted with you."

"He drinks."

"Not now, I know he used to do so, but he is quite steady now--I
knew you would object, I saw it in your manner, the way in which you
answered him; somehow or other, you don't seem to take to
respectable people. But mind you; if ever you marry anyone else, not
a penny of mine shall you have; not one double."

"He is my _cousin-germain_."

"Well, what does it matter? the law does not prevent you from
marrying your _cousin-germain_." His tone became bitter. He went on:
"I made a great mistake when I promised your mother on her death-bed
that I would send you to a boarding-school. What other objection
have you to state?"

His daughter looked down, coloured and replied almost inaudibly: "I
do not love him."

"Bah! if it's only that, you will get to love him soon enough; I
know you will."

Then thinking by her demeanour that he had nearly won her over, he
asked: "Shall I ask him to dinner next Sunday?"

"You would only increase the contempt that I feel for him."

Mr. Rougeant was not prepared for this. "I knew it," he said in a
vexed tone of voice; "this is the satisfaction you give me for
having brought you up like a lady, spending a great part of my
income towards your education. I tell you, you are a foolish girl, a
simpleton; I won't have any of your nonsense. I will see to this
later on."

They retired for the night; Mr. Rougeant enraged at his daughter's
abhorrence of Tom, and Adele deeply grieved at the condition of
affairs.

Alas! she knew her father well.

She felt that a terrible battle would have to be fought some day