Her continued weeping annoyed him; he tried to arrest her tears by addressing some consolatory remarks to her; but, at the very first word, she turned away, mounted precipitately the kitchen-stairs, and disappeared, closing the door behind her.

Some minutes after, La Guite brought a message to de Buxieres that Reine wished to be alone, and begged him to excuse her.
He took his departure, disconcerted, downhearted, and ready to weep himself, over the crumbling of his hopes.

As he was nearing the first outlying houses of the village, he came across the Abbe Pernot, who was striding along at a great rate, toward the chateau.
"Ah!" exclaimed the priest, "how are you, Monsieur de Buxieres, I was just going over to see you.

Is it true that you have received bad news ?" Julien nodded his head affirmatively, and informed the cure of the sad notice he had received.

The Abbe's countenance lengthened, his mouth took on a saddened expression, and during the next few minutes he maintained an attitude of condolence.
"Poor fellow!" he sighed, with a slight nasal intonation, "he did not have a fair chance! To have to leave us at twenty-six years of age, and in full health, it is very hard.