He did not love her, and only married her from necessity; he had devoured his patrimonial fortune to the very last farthing, and for two or three years had supported himself by various expedients.

Mademoiselle de Lannilis knew all that, and had no illusions on these points, but she said to herself: "I will love him so much, that he will end by loving me." Hence all her misfortunes.

Her existence might have been tolerable, if she had not loved her husband so much; but she loved him too much.

She had only succeeded in wearying him by her importunities and tenderness.
He returned to his former life, which had been most irregular.

Fifteen years had passed thus, in a long martyrdom, supported by Madame de Lavardens with all the appearance of passive resignation.