She, it was true, had pledged herself to take no steps towards meeting him, yet, without having said so to anyone, she thought he would do all in his power to find her.

But the Clos-Marie remained deserted, and he no longer walked among the wild grasses therein.

Not once during the past fortnight had she had a glimpse of him by day, or even seen his shadow in the evening.

Still her faith remained unshaken; that he did not come was simply that he was occupied in making his preparations to rejoin her.

However, as her surprise increased there was at length mingled with it a beginning of anxiety.
At last, one evening the dinner was sad at the embroiderer's, and as soon as it was over Hubert went out, under the pretext of having an important commission to attend to, so Hubertine remained alone with Angelique in the kitchen.