It had now been so patched and darned, that its oldest friends
could not have recognized it. But Father Jerome still maintained that
it was good enough for the ordinary run of his present daily duties,
though he jocosely apologized to Marie for appearing, on such an
occasion, in so mean a garment.
As soon as the breakfast was over, the table on which it had been eaten,
was converted into a rude altar, and the ceremony was commenced. Jacques
Chapeau and Annot, whose turn was immediately to follow, stood close up
to the table, opposite to their master and mistress; but Michael Stein
and his two sons, who of course were to be present at Annot's marriage,
and who had prepared to seat themselves on the stairs till their
presence should be required, had also been invited to attend; and they
now sat but very ill at their ease, on three chairs, in the very
farthest corner of the room. Michael Stein, though chance had thrown him
among the loyal Vendeans, had in his heart but little of that love and
veneration for his immediate superiors, which was the strong and
attractive point in the character of the people of Poitou.
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