The cards were already out, the mayor notified, and the Virgin's chapel, in the parish church, engaged.

To revoke all this at the caprice of a ghost and a fool, would be to sin against custom, common sense, and Heaven itself.
Clementine only replied with tears.

She could not be happy without marrying Leon, but she would rather die, she said, than give her hand without the sanction of M.Fougas.She promised to implore him, on her knees if necessary, and wring from him his consent.
"But if he refuses?
And it's too likely that he will!" "I will beseech him again and again, until he says yes." Everybody conspired to convince her that she was unreasonable--her aunt, Leon, M.and Mme.

Renault, M.Martout, M.Bonnivet, and all the friends of the two families.

At length she yielded, but, at almost the same instant, the door flew open, and M.Audret rushed into the parlor, crying out, "Well, well! here _is_ a piece of news! Colonel Fougas is going to fight M.du Marnet to-morrow." The young girl fell, thunderstruck, into the arms of Leon Renault.
"God punishes me!" cried she; "and the chastisement for my impiety is not delayed.