I can't indeed.' It was perhaps the fault of Michel Voss that he could not understand that a young woman should live in the same house with him, and have a want which he did not conceive.

Poor Marie! All that she wanted now, at this moment, was to be let alone! Madame Voss, in obedience to her husband's commands, went up to Marie and found her sitting in the children's room, leaning with her head on her hand and her elbow on the table, while the children were asleep around her.

She was waiting till the house should be quiet, so that she could go down and complete her work.

'O, is it you, Aunt Josey ?' she said.

'I am waiting till uncle and M.Urmand are gone, that I may go down and put away the wine and the fruit.' 'Never mind that to-night, Marie.' 'O yes, I will go down presently.