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Rh wooers who had asked for her hand, in spite of her forlorn position, feeling, as she did, a stumbling-block in her father's way. Yet outlet, save in a makeshift marriage, there seemed none for this grandly organized creature. At first, as we have seen, she had been ready to take the conventional middle-class French view of marriage. Provided that positions were suitable, parents agreed, the man not too repulsive, it seemed as if, in spite of inward misgivings, she must subordinate her own wishes in the matter to what was expected of her. But the more she reflected on the marriage state, the more clearly she came to see that no one had a right to demand of her that she should enter into so close and life-long a union with any person for whom she did not feel love, or at least entertain the highest regard; and, after a while, she was convinced that her duty lay, not in contracting such a marriage, but in opposing it, and then she stood firm as a rock, determined to do the humblest work, the most menial drudgery, to take service if need be, rather than sell herself in marriage for a mess of pottage. At the same time, in spite of her admiration of the Nouvelle Héloïse, which had made her realise the exquisiteness of domestic joys, she was not haunted by visions of romantic love, and had but few illusions in regard to men. According to the severe Roman ideal, she regarded marriage as a union to be entered into from duty more than passion, and from a high devotion to the family, because on the family depended the welfare of the State. But nothing seemed more improbable than that in her circle of acquaintances she should ever have a suitor to meet so stern an ideal.

One day, however, there presented himself, with a letter of introduction from the faithful Amiens friend,