He had no means of his own at all. Rose, who
had grown up near him, knew however that he was her father's preferred
assistant, and when he returned to the farm at the expiration of his
military service she, divining that he loved her, forced him to
acknowledge it. Thus she settled her own future life; she wished to
remain near her parents, on that farm which had hitherto held all her
happiness. Neither Mathieu nor Marianne was surprised at this. Deeply
touched, they signified their approval of a choice in which affection for
themselves had so large a part. The family ties seemed to be drawn yet
closer, and increase of joy came to the home.
So everything was settled, and it was agreed that on the appointed Sunday
Ambroise should bring his betrothed Andree and her mother, Madame Seguin,
to Janville by the ten o'clock train. A couple of hours previously Rose
had already begun a battle with the object of prevailing upon the whole
family to repair to the railway station to meet the affianced pair.
"But come, my children, it is unreasonable," Marianne gently exclaimed.
"It is necessary that somebody should stay at home. I shall keep Nicolas
here, for there is no need to send children of five years old scouring
the roads.
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