"Where are you going to?"
"I cannot tell you."
"But it cannot be, Marthe.... I will not let you go."
"She is her own mistress," said some one. "She must forget you as you must try to forget her."
"Is it Pierre, your fiancé, who demands this?" I asked.
Marthe eagerly seized this pretext. The horrible scene was as painful to her as to me.
"Yes... It is for Pierre."...
"He is going to marry you, after all, if you don't see me again, is that it?"... I was in tears now.... I added: "Marthe, if you wish it, I will enter a convent. All I long for is your happiness."...
My child looked at me and it was clear that she longed to rush into my arms....
"We had better go now," said some one. Marthe bent forward to kiss me. "Good-bye," I said. "You have always been my all in all... Remember, if ever you are abandoned by everybody, or unhappy, that you will still and always have your maman."