That very day Colin practised new mischief. What did he? He wished to
shame the poor Marietta publicly. Ah! she never thought that every one
in Napoule knew her violet-colored ribbon! Colin remembered it but too
well. Proudly he bound it around his hat, and exhibited it to the gaze
of all the world as a conquest. And male and female cried out: “He has
received it from Marietta.”--And all the maidens said angrily: “The
reprobate!” And all the young men who liked to see Marietta cried out:
“The reprobate!”
“How! Mother Manon?” shrieked the Justice Hautmartin when he came to her
house, and he shrieked so loudly that it re-echoed wonderfully through
his nose. “How! do you suffer this? my betrothed presents the young
proprietor Colin with her hat-band! It is high time that we celebrate
our nuptials. When that is over, then I shall have a right to speak.”
“You have a right!” answered Mother Manon, “if things are so, the
marriage must take place forthwith. When that is done, all will go
right.”
“But, Mother Manon, Marietta always refuses to give me her consent.”
“Prepare the marriage feast.”
“But she will not even look kindly at me; and when I seat myself at her
side, the little savage jumps up and runs away.”
“Justice, only prepare the marriage feast.”
“But if Marietta resists--”
“We will take her by surprise. We will go to Father Jerome on Monday
morning early, and he shall quietly celebrate the marriage. This we can
easily accomplish with him. I am her mother, you the first judicial
person in Napoule. He must obey. Marietta need know nothing about it.
Early on Monday morning I will send her to Father Jerome all alone, with
a message so that she will suspect nothing. Then the priest shall speak
earnestly to her. Half an hour afterward we two will come. Then swiftly
to the altar. And even if Marietta should then say No, what does it
matter? The old Priest can hear nothing. But till then, mum to Marietta
and all Napoule.”
So the secret remained with the two. Marietta dreamed not of the good
luck which was in store for her. She thought only of Colin’s wickedness,
which had made her the common talk of the whole place. Oh! how she
repented her heedlessness about the ribbon; and yet in her heart she
forgave the reprobate his crime. Marietta was far too good. She told her
mother, she told all her playmates, “Colin has found my lost hat band. I
never gave it to him. He only wishes to vex me with it. You all know
that Colin was always ill-disposed towards me, and always sought to
mortify me!”
Ah! the poor child! she knew not what new abomination the malicious
fellow was again contriving.