I may confess it now, I thought I had lost you, I was very anxious and very unhappy." Although she was still smiling, tears had gathered in her eyes, and he, likewise moved, again kissed her, murmuring: "Dear Marie! How happy it makes me to find you as beautiful and as affectionate as ever." Pierre, who was looking at them, deemed them cold.

He had doubtless expected more tears, and a more passionate embrace on the part of an affianced pair, whom so grievous an accident had separated almost on the eve of their wedding.

Moreover, his feelings were hurt by the disproportion of their respective ages.

No doubt his brother still seemed to him very sturdy and young, and his feeling of repulsion must have come from that young woman whom, most decidedly, he did not like.

Ever since her arrival he had experienced increasing discomfort, a keener and keener desire to go off and never return.
So acute became his suffering at feeling like a stranger in his brother's home, that he at last rose and sought to take his leave, under the pretext that he had some urgent matters to attend to in town.
"What! you won't stay to _dejeuner_ with us!" exclaimed Guillaume in perfect stupefaction.