Ideas flitted across her mind of various modes of escape.

What if she were to run away--to her cousin's house at Epinal; and write from thence to say that this proposed marriage was impossible?
But her cousin at Epinal was a stranger to her, and her uncle had always been to her the same as a father.

Then she thought of going to Colmar, of telling the whole truth to George, and of dying when he refused her--as refuse her he would.

But this was a dream rather than a plan.
Or how would it be if she went to her uncle now at once, while the young man was away at the ravine, and swore to him that nothing on earth should induce her to marry Adrian Urmand?
But brave as Marie was, she was afraid to do this.

He had told her how he suffered when they two did not stand well together, and she feared to be accused by him of unkindness and ingratitude.