Whatsuddennoiseisthisoutside?”Fire！Fire！Let’sburnthemintheircot！”
Flamesshinethroughalltheshutterswide，ThenFranconnettespringstothedoorwaytremblingly，And，graciousHeaven！whatdothshesee?
Bylightofburningreek，Anangrypeoplehuddledthick；
Shehearsthemshout，”Now，toyourfate！
Sparene’ertheyoungone，northeold，Bothworkusruinmanifold。
Soldtothedemon，wemustburnyoustraight！”
Thegirlfellonherknees，beforethefaceOfthatmostfuriouspopulace。
Shecried，”Grandmotherwillyoukill?Oh，pity，grace！””Twasofnouse，thewretches，blindwithfury，Inviewingherbareheaded，intheirhurry，Sawbutacursedleman，Soldbodilytothedemon。
Thefiercestcried”Avaunt！”
Whilethemoresavageforwardspring，Andonthedoortheirfeettheyplant，Withfierybrandintheirhandbrandishing。”Hold！Iimploreyou！”criedavoice，beforeunheard；
Andsuddenleaptbeforethecrowdlikelightningwiththeword，Amanofstatelystrengthandtall，Itwasthenoble，bravePascal！”Cowards！”hecried。”What?Willyoumurderwomenthen，Andburntheircot?ChildrenofGod！Areyouthesame?
Tigersyouare，andcannotthenbemen；
Andafterallthattheyhavesuffered！Shame！
Fallback！Fallback！Isay；thewallsaregrowinghot！””Thenletherleaveusquite，thiswretchedHuguenot，Forshewaslongsincebythedevilbought，Godsmitesus’causewedidnotdriveherforthbefore。””Quick！quick！”criedPascal，”livingtheywillburn！
Yedogs，whomovedyetothisawfulcrime?””’TwasMarcel，”theyreplied。”See，nowhecomesintime！””Youlie！”thesoldierthunderedinhisturn；”Iloveher，boaster，morethanthou！”
SaidPascal，”Howwiltprovethylove，thouofthetenderheart?””Icome，”theothersaid，”tosaveher。Icometotakeherpart。
Icome，ifsoshewill，towedher，evennow。””AndsoamI，”repliedPascal，andsteadfastlyBeforehisrival’seyes，asboundbysomegreatspell。
Thentotheorphangirlturnedhe，Withworshipallunspeakable。”Answerme，Franconnette，andspeakthetruthalone；
Thou’stfollowedbythewickedwithspiteandscorn，myown；
Butwetwolovetheewell，andreadyaretobraveDeath！Yes，orhell，thypreciouslifetosave。
Choosewhichofusthouwilt！””Nay，”shelamentedsore，”Dearest，mineisalovethatslays！
Behappy，then，withoutme！Forgetme！Gothyways！””Happywithoutthee，dear！ThatcanInevermore：
Nay，wereittrue，aslyingrumoursays，Anevilspiritruledyouo’er，I’dratherdiewithyou，thanlivebereaveddays！”
Whenlifeisatitsbitterest，Thevoiceofloveayerulesusbest；
Instantlyrosethegirlabovehermortaldread，Andonthecrowdadvancingstraight，”BecauseIlovePascal，aloneI’dmeetmyfate！
Howbeithiswillislaw，”shesaid，”Whereforetogetherletoursoulsbesped。”
ThenwasPascalinheav’n，andMarcelinthedustlaidlow；
ThenPascalsoughthisgallantrival，saying，”Iammoreblestthanthou！Forgive！thou’rtbrave，Iknow，Somesquire[9]shouldfollowmetodeath；thenwiltthounotServeme?Ihavenootherfriend！”Marcelseemeddreaming；
Andnowhescowledwithwrath，andnowhiseyeswerekindling；
Terriblewasthebattleinhismind；
TillhiseyefellonFranconnette，sereneandbeaming，Butwithnowordforhim；thenpale，butsmilingly，”Becauseitisherwill，”hesaid，”Ifollowthee。”
Twoweekshadpassedaway，andastrangenuptialtrain，Adowntheverdanthillwentslowlytotheplain；
Firstcamethecomelypairweknow，inalltheirbloom，Whilegatheredfarandwide，threedeeponeitherside，Theever-curiousrusticshied，Shudd’ringathearto’erPascal’sdoom。
Marcelconductstheirmarch，butpleasureskindlytrue，Glowsnotuponth’unmovingfaceheliftstoview。
Andsomethingglancesfromhiseye，Thatmakesmenshudderastheypasshimby；
Yetverilyhismientriumphantis，atleastSolemasterisheofthisfeast，Andgiveshisrival，forbouquet，Asupperandaballto-day。
ButatthedanceandattheboardAlike，scarceoneessayedaword；
Nonesungasong，noneraisedajest，Fordarkforebodingseveryoneoppressed。
Andthebetrothed，bylove’sdeeprapturefascinated，Silentandsweet，thoughnearthefateshesadawaited，Nosoundtheirdreamdispelled，yethandinhanddidpress，Theireyeslookedeverinavisionedhappiness；
Andso，atlast，theeveningfell。
Butoneaffrightedwomanstraightwaybrokethespell；
ShefellonPascal’sneckand”Fly，myson！”shecried。”IfromtheSorcerercome！Fly，flyfromthyfalsebrideThefatalsieve[10]hathturned；thydeathdecreeisspoken！
There’ssulphurfumeinbridalroom，andbythesamedreadtoken，Enteritnot；forifthouliv’stthou’rtlost，”shesadlysaid；”Andwhatwerelifetome，myson，ifthouwertdead?”
ThenPascalfelthiseyeswerewet，Andturnedaway，strivingtohidehisface，whereonThemothershrieked，”Ingrate！butIwillsavetheeyet。
Thouwiltnotdare！”——fallingbeforeherstrickenson。”Thoushaltnowo’ermybodypass，evenasthougoestforth！
Awife，itseems，isall；andmothernothingworth！
UnhappythatIam！”Thecrowdalas！theirheavytearsrandown！”Marcel，”thebridegroomsaid，”hergriefismydespair；
Butlove，thouknowest，’sstrongeryet；indeed’tistimetogo！
Only，shouldIperish，letmymotherbethycare。””Icannomore，”criedMarcel，”thymother’sconqueredhere。”
Andthenthevaliantsoldierfromhiseyelidsbrushedatear。”Takecourage，Pascal，friendofmineThyFranconnetteisgoodandpure。
Thathideoustalewastold，ofdarkdesign；
Butgivethymotherthanks；butforhercoming，sureThisnightmightyethaveseenmydeathandthine。””Whatsay’stthou?””Hush！nowIwilltelltheeall；
ThouknowestthatIlov’dthismaid，Pascal。
Forher，likethee，Iwouldhaveshedmyblood；
IdreamtthatIwaslovedagain；sheheldmeinherthrall。
Albeitmyprayerwasayewithstood；
Herelderspromisedhertome；
Andso，whenothersuitorsbarr’dmyway，Inspite，Saying，inloveorwar，onemayusestrategy，Igavethewizardgold，myrivaltoaffright，Therefore，mychancedideverything，insomuchthatIsaid，Mytreasureisalreadywonandmade。
Butwhen，inthesamebreath，wetwooursuitmadeknown，AndwhenIsawher，withoutturnofhead，Choosethee，tomydespair，itwasnottobeborne。
AndthenIvow’dherdeathandthine，beforethemorrowmorn！
Ithoughttoleadyouforthtothebridalbowererelong，Andthen，thebedbesidewhichIhadminedwithcare，Thattheymightsaynoprinceorpowerofth’airIshere。ThatImightburnyouformywrong；
Ay，crossyourselves，thoughtI，foryoushallsurelydie！
Butthymother，withhertears，hasmademyvengeanceflyIthoughtofmyown，Pascal，whodiedsolongago。
Carethouforthine！Andnowfearnoughtfromme，Itrow，Edeniscomingdowntoearthforthee，nodoubt，ButI，whomhenceforthmencanonlyhateandflout，Willtothewarsaway！ForinmesomethingsaithImayrecoverfrommyrout，Betterthanbyacrime！Ay！byasoldier’sdeath！”
Thussaying，Marcelvanished，loudlycheeredoneveryside；
Andthenwithdeepeningblushesthetwaineachothereyed，FornowthemorningstarsinthedarkheavensshoneButnowIliftmypencilsuddenly。
ColoursforstrifeandpainhaveI，Butforsuchperfectrapture——none！
Andsothemorningcame，withsoftly-dawninglight，Nosound，nostirasyetwithinthecottagewhite，AtEstanquetthepeopleofthehamletsgatheredwere，Towaitthewakingofthehappymarriedpair。
Marcelhadfranklytoldth’unhappytruth；Nathless，Thedevilhadanawfulpower，Andignorancewasstillhisdower。