"
"Poor Marie! I grieve that you brought her from Durbelliere."
"Not so, Victorine; this is the place for Marie now; indeed, dear girl,
she knew that well herself. The Marquis pressed her hard to stay, and
I said nothing; but Marie insisted on coming home. I thought Henri
looked somewhat more sombre than is his wont, as he was leading her down
the steps: but he cannot, must not, think of love now, Victorine. La
Vendee now wants all his energies."
"But you would not forbid him to love her, Charles?"
"I could forbid him nothing, for I love him as Joseph loved his younger
brother Benjamin."
"And he will be here now backwards and forwards, will he not?"
"Probably he will--that is as circumstances may arise--he is, at any
rate, as likely to be at Clisson as Durbelliere."
"He will be more likely, Charles, take my word for it; you cannot
prevent their meeting; you cannot hinder them from loving each other."
"Were the King upon his throne, it would be my greatest joy to give my
sister to my friend, but now--it is the same for all of us--we must take
the chance of these horrid times; and could they be taught to quench the
warm feelings of their young hearts, it were well for both of them.
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