"Pierre, my boy, be a brother to my wife, a father to my children. God bless you, boy."
"Victoire," answered I, "I swear it."
And then he died without a murmur.
CHAPTER IV.
Of course you will guess, monsieur, that this awful affair was the means of putting off our marriage. Marie and I neither of us complained, but consoled ourselves with the reflection that all would soon be well. I took up my position in my brother's house, and warmly kissed my brother's children, now mine. Alphonsine tried to show her gratitude as well as she could. And so six months slipped away, and the villagers began talking again about our marriage. I don't know how it was, but I began to feel very nervous and uneasy about the matter, and I did not so much as dare broach the subject either to Alphonsine or Marie's mother. In a little time the latter began the subject herself.
"Pierre," said she, "you have adopted your brother's children, have you not?"
"Yes, mother."
"And his wife also?"
"Yes; I must take care of his wife quite as much as her children."