They met in conference at the mill on the eve of the marriage of Sophie Lavilette to Magon Farcinelle, farrier, farmer and member of the provincial legislature, whose house lay behind the piece of maple wood, a mile or so to the right of the Lavilettes' farmhouse.

Farcinelle's engagement to Sophie had come as a surprise to all, for, so far as people knew, there had been no courting.

Madame Lavilette had encouraged, had even tempted, the spontaneous and jovial Farcinelle.

Though he had never made a speech in the House of Assembly, and it was hard to tell why he was elected, save because everybody liked him, his official position and his popularity held an important place in Madame Lavilette's long-developed plans, which at last were to place her in a position equal to that of the old seigneur, and launch her upon society at the capital.
They had gone more than once to the capital, where their family had been well-known fifty years before, but few doors had been opened to them.
They were farmers--only farmers--and Madame Lavilette made no remarkable impression.

Her dress was florid and not in excellent taste, and her accent was rather crude.