Ought not he to go in, to introduce himself, and to ask the consent of the unnatural parent?
As an honest man, it was for him to judge if he had the right of cutting the tie there and for ever.

Brusquely he turned his back, hurried away, and returned that evening to Beaumont.
Hubertine had just learned that the _proces-verbal_ at Monsieur Grandsire's, for the guardianship of the child, had been signed.

And when Angelique threw herself into Hubert's arms, he saw clearly by the look of supplication in her eyes, that she had understood the true reason of his journey.
Then he said quietly: "My child, your mother is not living." Angelique wept, as she kissed him most affectionately.

After this the subject was not referred to.

She was their daughter.
At Whitsuntide, this year, the Huberts had taken Angelique with them to lunch at the ruins of the Chateau d'Hautecoeur, which overlooks the Ligneul, two leagues below Beaumont; and, after the day spent in running and laughing in the open air, the young girl still slept when, the next morning, the old house-clock struck eight.
Hubertine was obliged to go up and rap at her door.
"Ah, well! Little lazy child! We have already had our breakfast, and it is late." Angelique dressed herself quickly and went down to the kitchen, where she took her rolls and coffee alone.