THE BROKEN CUP

By Johann Heinrich Daniel Zschokke

Translated by P. G. 

Copyright, 1891, by The Current Literature Publishing Company

Author's Note. --There is extant under this name a short piece by theauthor of "Little Kate of Heilbronn. " That and the tale which herefollows originated in an incident which took place at Bern in the year1802. Henry von Kleist and Ludwig Wieland, the son of the poet, wereboth friends of the writer, in whose chamber hung an engraving called_La Cruche Cassée_, the persons and contents of which resembled thescene set forth below, under the head of The Tribunal. The drawing, which was full of expression, gave great delight to those who saw it, and led to many conjectures as to its meaning. The three friends agreed, in sport, that they would each one day commit to writing his peculiarinterpretation of its design. Wieland promised a satire; Von Kleistthrew off a comedy; and the author of the following tale what is heregiven. 

Transcriber's Note. --Two pages in the middle of this work are missing. 

THAT Napoule is only a very little place on the bay of Cannes is true;yet it is pretty well known through all Provence. It lies in the shadeof lofty evergreen palms, and darker orange trees; but that alone wouldnot make it renowned. Still they say that there are grown the mostluscious grapes, the sweetest roses, and the handsomest girls. I don'tknow but it is so; in the mean time I believe it most readily. Pity thatNapoule is so small, and can not produce more luscious grapes, fragrantroses, and handsome maidens; especially, as we might then have some ofthem transplanted to our own country. 

As, ever since the foundation of Napoule, all the Napoulese women havebeen beauties, so the little Marietta was a wonder of wonders, as thechronicles of the place declare. She was called the little Marietta; yetshe was not smaller than a girl of seventeen or thereabout ought to be, seeing that her forehead just reached up to the lips of a grown man. 

The chronicles aforesaid had very good ground for speaking of Marietta. I, had I stood in the shoes of the chronicler, would have done thesame. For Marietta, who until lately had lived with her mother Manonat Avignon, when she came back to her birthplace, quite upset the wholevillage. Verily, not the houses, but the people and their heads; and notthe heads of all the people, but of those particularly whose heads andhearts are always in danger when in the neighborhood of two bright eyes. I know very well that such a position is no joke. 

Mother Manon would have done much better if she had remained at Avignon. But she had been left a small inheritance, by which she received atNapoule an estate consisting of some vine-hills, and a house that lay inthe shadow of a rock, between certain olive trees and African acacias. This is a kind of thing which no unprovided widow ever rejects; and, accordingly, in her own estimation, she was as rich and happy as thoughshe were the Countess of Provence or something like it. 

So much the worse was it for the good people of Napoule. They neversuspected their misfortune, not having read in Homer how a single prettywoman had filled all Greece and Lesser Asia with discord and war. 

Marietta had scarcely been fourteen days in the house, between the olivetrees and the African acacias, before every young man of Napoule knewthat she lived there, and that there lived not, in all Provence, a morecharming girl than the one in that house. 

Went she through the village, sweeping lightly along like a dressed-upangel, her frock, with its pale-green bodice, and orange leaves androsebuds upon the bosom of it, fluttering in the breeze, and flowersand ribbons waving about the straw bonnet, which shaded her beautifulfeatures--yes, then the grave old men spake out, and the young ones werestruck dumb. And everywhere, to the right and left, little windows anddoors were opened with a "Good morning, " or a "Good evening, Marietta, "as it might be, while she nodded to the right and left with a pleasantsmile. 

If Marietta walked into church, all hearts (that is, of the youngpeople) forgot Heaven; all eyes turned from the saints, and theworshiping finger wandered idly among the pearls of the rosary. Thismust certainly have provoked much sorrow, at least, among the moredevout. 

The maidens of Napoule particularly became very pious about this time, for they, most of all, took the matter to heart. And they were not tobe blamed for it; for since the advent of Marietta more than oneprospective groom had become cold, and more than one worshipper of somebeloved one quite inconstant. There were bickerings and reproaches onall sides, many tears, pertinent lectures, and even rejections. The talkwas no longer of marriages, but of separations. They began to returntheir pledges of troth, rings, ribbons, etc. The old persons took partwith their children; criminations and strife spread from house to house;it was most deplorable. 

Marietta is the cause of all, said the pious maidens first; then themothers said it; next the fathers took it up; and finally all--even theyoung men. But Marietta, shielded by her modesty and innocence, likethe petals of the rosebud in its dark-green calix, did not suspectthe mischief of which she was the occasion, and continued courteous toeverybody. This touched the young men, who said, "Why condemn the pureand harmless child--she is not guilty!" Then the fathers said the samething; then the mothers took it up, and finally all--even the piousmaidens. For, let who would talk with Marietta, she was sure to gaintheir esteem. So before half a year had passed, everybody had spoken toher, and everybody loved her. But she did not suspect that she was theobject of such general regard, as she had not before suspected that shewas the object of dislike. Does the violet, hidden in the downtroddengrass, think how sweet it is?

Now every one wished to make amends for the injustice they had doneMarietta. Sympathy deepened the tenderness of their attachment. Mariettafound herself greeted everywhere in a more friendly way than ever; shewas more cordially welcomed; more heartily invited to the rural sportsand dances. 

All men, however, are not endowed with tender sympathy; some havehearts hardened like Pharaoh's. This arises, no doubt, from that naturaldepravity which has come upon men in consequence of the fall of Adam, orbecause, at their baptism, the devil is not brought sufficiently undersubjection. 

A remarkable example of this hardness of heart was given by one Colin, the richest farmer and proprietor in Napoule, whose vineyards and olivegardens, whose lemon and orange trees could hardly be counted in a day. One thing particularly demonstrates the perverseness of his disposition;he was twenty-seven years old, and had never yet asked for what purposegirls had been created!

True, all the people, especially damsels of a certain age, willinglyforgave him this sin, and looked upon him as one of the best young menunder the sun. His fine figure, his fresh, unembarrassed manner, hislook, his laugh, enabled him to gain the favorable opinion of theaforesaid people, who would have forgiven him, had there been occasion, any one of the deadly sins. But the decision of such judges is notalways to be trusted. While both old and young at Napoule had becomereconciled to the innocent Marietta, and proffered their sympathiesto her, Colin was the only one who had no pity upon the poor child. IfMarietta was talked of he became as dumb as a fish. If he met her in thestreet he would turn red and white with anger, and cast sidelong glancesat her of the most malicious kind. 

If at evening the young people met upon the seashore near the old castleruins for sprightly pastimes, or rural dances, or to sing catches, Colin was the merriest among them. But as soon as Marietta arrived therascally fellow was silent, and all the gold in the world couldn'tmake him sing. What a pity, when he had such a fine voice I Everybodylistened to it so willingly, and its store of songs was endless. 

All the maidens looked kindly upon Colin, and he was friendly with allof them. He had, as we have said, a roguish glance, which the lassesfeared and loved; and it was so sweet they would like to have had itpainted. But, as might naturally be expected, the offended Mariettadid not look graciously upon him. And in that he was perfectly right. Whether he smiled or not, it was all the same to her. As to his roguishglance, why she would never hear it mentioned; and therein too shewas perfectly right. When he told a tale (and he knew thousands) andeverybody listened, she nudged her neighbor, or perhaps threw tufts ofgrass at Peter or Paul, and laughed and chattered, and did not listen toColin at all. This behavior quite provoked the proud fellow, so that hewould break off in the middle of his story and stalk sullenly away. 

Revenge is sweet. The daughter of Mother Manon well knew how to triumph. Yet Marietta was a right good child and quite too tenderhearted. IfColin was silent, it gave her pain. If he was downcast, she laughed nomore. If he went away, she did not stay long behind: but hurried to herhome, and wept tears of repentance, more beautiful than those of theMagdalen, although she had not sinned like the Magdalen. 

Father Jerome, the pastor of Napoule, was an old man of seventy, whopossessed all the virtues of a saint, and only one failing; which was, that by reason of his advanced years, he was hard of hearing. But, onthat very account, his homilies were more acceptable to the children ofhis baptism and blessing. True, he preached only of two subjects, as ifthey comprehended the whole of religion. It was either "Little children, love one another, " or it was "Mysterious are the ways of Providence. "And truly there is so much Faith, Love, and Hope in these that one mightat a pinch be saved by them. The little children loved one another mostobediently, and trusted in the ways of Providence. Only Colin, with hisflinty heart, would know nothing of either: for even when he professedto be friendly, he entertained the deepest malice. 

The Napoulese went to the annual market or fair of the city of Vence. It was truly a joyful time, and though they had but little gold to buywith, there were many goods to look at. Now Marietta and Mother Manonwent to the fair with the rest, and Colin was also there. He bought agreat many curiosities and trifles for his friends--but he would notspend a farthing for Marietta. And yet he was always at her elbow, though he did not speak to her, nor she to him. It was easy to see thathe was brooding over some scheme of wickedness. 

Mother Manon stood gazing before a shop, when she suddenly exclaimed:

"Oh! Marietta, see that beautiful cup! A queen would not be ashamed toraise it to her lips. Only see: the edge is of dazzling gold, and theflowers upon it could not bloom more beautifully in the garden, althoughthey are only painted. And in the midst of this Paradise! pray see, Marietta, how the apples are smiling on the trees. They are verilytempting. And Adam cannot withstand it, as the enchanting Eve offershim one for food! And do see how prettily the little frisking lamb skipsaround the old tiger, and the snow-white dove with her golden throatstands there before the vulture, as if she would caress him. "

Marietta could not satisfy herself with looking. "Had I such a cup, mother!" said she, "it is far too beautiful to drink out of: I wouldplace my flowers in it and constantly peep into Paradise. We are at thefair in Vence, but when I look on the picture I feel as if I were inParadise. "

So spoke Marietta, and called her companions to the spot, to share heradmiration of the cup: but the young men soon joined the maidens, untilat length almost half the inhabitants of Napoule were assembled beforethe wonderfully beautiful cup. But miraculously beautiful was it mainlyfrom its inestimable, translucent porcelain, with gilded handles andglowing colors. They asked the merchant timidly: "Sir, what is the priceof it?" And he answered: "Among friends, it is worth a hundred livres. "Then they all became silent, and went away in despair. When theNapoulese were all gone from the front of the shop, Colin came there bystealth, threw the merchant a hundred livres upon the counter, had thecup put in a box well packed with cotton, and then carried it off. Whatevil plans he had in view no one would have surmised. 

Near Napoule, on his way home, it being already dusk, he met oldJacques, the Justice's servant, returning from the fields. Jacques was avery good man, but excessively stupid. 

"I will give thee money enough to get something to drink, Jacques, " saidColin, "if thou wilt bear this box to Manon's house, and leave it there;and if any one should see thee, and inquire from whom the box came, say'A stranger gave it to me. ' But never disclose my name, or I will alwaysdetest thee. "

Jacques promised this, took the drink-money and the box, and went withit toward the little dwelling between the olive trees and the Africanacacias. 

*****

Before he arrived there he encountered his master, Justice Hautmartin, who asked; "Jacques, what art thou carrying?"

"A box for Mother Manon. But, sir, I cannot say from whom it comes. "

"Why not?"

"Because Colin would always detest me. "

"It is well that thou canst keep a secret. But it is already late; giveme the box, for I am going to-morrow to see Mother Manon; I will deliverit to her and not betray that it came from Colin. It will save thee awalk, and furnish me a good excuse for calling on the old lady. "

Jacques gave the box to his master, whom he was accustomed to obeyimplicitly in all things. The justice bore it into his chamber, andexamined it by the light with some curiosity. On the lid was neatlywritten with red chalk: "For the lovely and dear Marietta. " But MonsieurHautmartin well knew that this was some of Colin's mischief, and thatsome knavish trick lurked under the whole. He therefore opened the boxcarefully for fear that a mouse or rat should be concealed within. When he beheld the wondrous cup, which he had seen at Vence, he wasdreadfully shocked, for Monsieur Hautmartin was a skilful casuist, andknew that the inventions and devices of the human heart are evil fromour youth upward. He saw at once that Colin designed this cup as ameans of bringing misfortune upon Marietta: perhaps to give out, when itshould be in her possession, that it was the present of some successfullover in the town, or the like, so that all decent people wouldthereafter keep aloof from Marietta. Therefore Monsieur Hautmartinresolved, in order to prevent any evil reports, to profess himselfthe giver. Moreover, he loved Marietta, and would gladly have seen herobserve more strictly toward himself the sayings of the gray-headedpriest Jerome, "Little children, love one another. " In truth, MonsieurHautmartin was a little child of fifty years old, and Marietta didnot think the saying applied particularly to him. Mother Manon, on thecontrary, thought that the justice was a clever little child, he hadgold and a high reputation from one end of Napoule to the other. Andwhen the justice spoke of marriage, and Marietta ran away in affright, Mother Manon remained sitting, and had no fear for the tall, staidgentleman. It must also be confessed there were no faults in his person. And although Colin might be the handsomest man in the village, yet thejustice far surpassed him in two things, namely, in the number of years, and in a very, very big nose. Yes, this nose, which always went beforethe justice like a herald to proclaim his approach, was a real elephantamong human noses. 

With this proboscis, his good purpose, and the cup, the justice went thefollowing morning to the house between the olive trees and the Africanacacias. 

"For the beautiful Marietta, " said he, "I hold nothing too costly. Yesterday you admired the cup at Vence; to-day allow me, lovelyMarietta, to lay it and my devoted heart at your feet. "

Manon and Marietta were transported beyond measure when they beheld thecup. Manon's eyes glistened with delight, but Marietta turned and said:"I can neither take your heart nor your cup. "

Then Mother Marion was angry, and cried out: "But I accept both heartand cup. Oh, thou little fool, how long wilt thou despise thy goodfortune! For whom dost thou tarry? Will a count of Provence make theehis bride, that thou scornest the Justice of Napoule? I know better howto look after my interests. Monsieur Hautmartin, I deem it an honor tocall thee my son-in-law. "

Then Marietta went out and wept bitterly, and hated the beautiful cupwith all her heart. 

But the justice, drawing the palm of his flabby hand over his nose, spoke thus judiciously:

"Mother Manon, hurry nothing. The dove will at length, when it learnsto know me better, give way. I am not impetuous. I have some skill amongwomen, and before a quarter of a year passes by I will insinuate myselfinto Marietta's good graces. "

"Thy nose is too large for that, " whispered Marietta, who listenedoutside the door and laughed to herself. In fact, the quarter of a yearpassed by and Monsieur Hautmartin had not yet pierced the heart evenwith the tip of his nose. 

During this quarter of a year Marietta had other affairs to attend to. The cup gave her much vexation and trouble, and something else besides. 

For a fortnight nothing else was talked of in Napoule, and every onesaid it is a present from the justice, and the marriage is alreadyagreed upon. Marietta solemnly declared to all her companions that shewould rather plunge to the bottom of the sea than marry the justice, but the maidens continued to banter her all the more, saying: "Oh, howblissful it must be to repose in the shadow of his nose!" This was herfirst vexation. 

Then Mother Manon had the cruelty to force Marietta to rinse out thecup every morning at the spring under the rock and to fill it with freshflowers. She hoped by this to accustom Marietta to the cup and heart ofthe giver. But Marietta continued to hate both the gift and giver, andher work at the spring became an actual punishment. 

Second vexation. 

Then, when in the morning, she came to the spring, twice every week shefound on the rock, immediately over it, some most beautiful flowers, handsomely arranged, all ready for the decoration of the cup. And on theflower-stalks a strip of paper was always tied, on which was written, "Dear Marietta. " Now no one need expect to impose upon little Mariettaas if magicians and fairies were still in the world. Consequently sheknew that both the flowers and papers must have come from MonsieurHautmartin. Marietta, indeed, would not smell them because the livingbreath from out of the justice's nose had perfumed them. Neverthelessshe took the flowers, because they were finer than wild flowers, andtore the slip of paper into a thousand pieces, which she strewed uponthe spot where the flowers usually lay. But this did not vex JusticeHautmartin, whose love was unparalleled in its kind as his nose was inits kind. Third vexation. 

At length it came out in conversation with Monsieur Hautmartin thathe was not the giver of the beautiful flowers. Then who could it be?Marietta was utterly astounded at the unexpected discovery. Thenceforthshe took the flowers from the rock more kindly; but, further, Mariettawas--what maidens are not wont to be--very inquisitive. She conjecturedfirst this and then that young man in Napoule. Yet her conjectures werein vain. She looked and listened far into the night; she rose earlierthan usual But she looked and listened in vain. And still twice a weekin the morning the miraculous flowers lay upon the rock, and upon thestrip of paper wound round them she always read the silent sigh, "DearMarietta!" Such an incident would have made even the most indifferentinquisitive. But curiosity at length became a burning pain. Fourthvexation. 

Now Father Jerome, on Sunday, had again preached from the text:"Mysterious are the dispensations of Providence. " And little Mariettathought, if Providence would only dispense that I might at length findout who is the flower dispenser. Father Jerome was never wrong. 

On a summer night, when it was far too warm to rest, Marietta awoke veryearly, and could not resume her sleep. Therefore she sprang joyouslyfrom her couch as the first streaks of dawn flashed against the windowof her little chamber, over the waves of the sea and the Lerinian Isles, dressed herself, and went out to wash her forehead, breast, and arms inthe cool spring. She took her hat with her, intending to take a walk bythe sea-shore, as she knew of a retired place for bathing. 

In order to reach this retired spot, it was necessary to pass over therocks behind the house, and thence down through the orange and palmtrees. On this occasion Marietta could not pass through them; for, under the youngest and most slender of the palms lay a tall young manin profound sleep--near him a nosegay of most splendid flowers. A whitepaper lay thereon, from which probably a sigh was again breathing. Howcould Marietta get by there?

She stood still, trembling with fright. She would go home again. Hardlyhad she retreated a couple of steps, ere she looked again at the sleeperand remained motionless. Yet the distance prevented her from recognizinghis face. Now the mystery was to be solved, or never. She trippedlightly nearer to the palms; but he seemed to stir--then she ran againtoward the cottage. His movements were but the fearful imaginings ofMarietta. Now she returned again on her way toward the palms; but hissleep might perhaps be only dissembled--swiftly she ran toward thecottage--but who would flee for a mere probability? She trod more boldlythe path toward the palms. 

With these fluctuations of her timid and joyous spirit, between frightand curiosity, with these to-and-fro trippings between the house andthe palm-trees, she at length nearly approached the sleeper; at the sametime curiosity became more powerful than fear. 

"What is he to me? My way leads me directly past him. Whether he sleepsor wakes, I will go straight on. " So thought Manon's daughter. Butshe passed not by, but stood looking directly in the face of theflower-giver, in order to be certain who it was. Besides, he slept as ifit were the first time in a month. And who was it? Now, who else shouldit be but the archwicked Colin. 

So it was _he_ who had annoyed the gentle maiden, and given her so muchtrouble with Monsieur Hautmartin, because he bore a grudge against her;he had been the one who had teased her with flowers, in order to tortureher curiosity. Wherefore? He hated Marietta. He behaved himself alwaysmost shamefully toward the poor child. He avoided her when he could; andwhen he could not, he grieved the good-natured little one. With all theother maidens of Napoule he was more chatty, friendly, courteous, thantoward Marietta. Consider--he had never once asked her to dance, and yetshe danced bewitchingly. 

Now there he lay, surprised, taken in the act. Revenge swelled inMarietta's bosom. What disgrace could she subject him to? She took thenosegay, unloosened it, strewed his present over the sleeper in scorn. But the paper, on which appeared again the sigh, "Dear Marietta!" sheretained, and thrust quickly into her bosom. She wished to preserve thisproof of his handwriting. Marietta was sly. Now she would go away. Buther revenge was not yet satisfied. She could not leave the place withoutreturning Colin's ill-will. 

She took the violet-colored silken ribbon from her hat, and threw itlightly around the sleeper's arm and around the tree, and with threeknots tied Colin fast. Now when he awoke, how astonished he would be!How his curiosity would torment him to ascertain who had played him thistrick! He could not possibly know. So much the better; it served himright. She seemed to regret her work when she had finished it. Her bosomthrobbed impetuously. Indeed, I believe that a little tear filled hereye, as she compassionately gassed upon the guilty one. Slowlyshe retreated to the orange grove by the rocks--she looked aroundoften--slowly ascended the rocks, looking down among the palm trees asshe ascended. Then she hastened to Mother Manon, who was calling her. 

That very day Colin practised new mischief. What did he? He wished toshame the poor Marietta publicly. Ah! she never thought that every onein Napoule knew her violet-colored ribbon! Colin remembered it but toowell. Proudly he bound it around his hat, and exhibited it to the gazeof all the world as a conquest. And male and female cried out: "He hasreceived it from Marietta. "--And all the maidens said angrily: "Thereprobate!" 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 herhouse, and he shrieked so loudly that it reechoed wonderfully throughhis nose. "How! do you suffer this? my betrothed presents the youngproprietor Colin with her hat-band! It is high time that we celebrateour nuptials. When that is over, then I shall have a right to speak. "

"You have a right!" answered Mother Manon, "if things are so, themarriage must take place forthwith. When that is done, all will goright. "

"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 herside, 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 Mondaymorning early, and he shall quietly celebrate the marriage. This we caneasily accomplished with him. I am her mother, you the first judicialperson in Napoule. He must obey. Marietta need know nothing about it. Early on Monday morning I will send her to Father Jerome all alone, witha message so that she will suspect nothing. Then the priest shall speakearnestly to her. Half an hour afterward we two will come. Then swiftlyto the altar. And even if Marietta should then say No, what does itmatter? The old priest can hear. . . . 

----_Two pages missing: 200, 201_----

. . . . He shall replace both cup and window-sash with his gold. It will givea rich dowry to Marietta But when Marietta brought in the fragments ofthe shattered cup, when Manon saw the Paradise lost, the good man Adamwithout a head, and of Eve not a solitary limb remaining, the serpentunhurt, triumphing, the tiger safe, but the little lamb gone even to thevery tail, as if the tiger had swallowed it, then Mother Manon screamedforth curses against Colin, and said: "One can easily see that this_fall_ came from the hand of the devil. "

She took the cup in one hand, Marietta in the other, and went, aboutnine o'clock, to when Monsieur Hautmartin was wont to sit in judgment. She there made a great outcry, and showed the broken cup and theParadise lost. Marietta wept bitterly. 

The justice, when he saw the broken cup and his beautiful bride intears, flew into so violent a rage toward Colin that his nose wasas violet-colored as Marietta's well-known hat-band, He immediatelydespatched his bailiffs to bring the criminal before him. 

Colin came, overwhelmed with grief. Mother Manon now repeatedher complaint with great eloquence before justice, bailiffs, andsaribes. --But Colin listened not. He stepped to Marietta and whisperedto hen "Forgive me, dear Marietta, as I forgive thee. I broke thy cupunintentionally; but thou, thou hast broken my heart!"

"What whispering is that?" cried Justice Hautmartin, with magisterialauthority. "Harken to this accusation, and defend yourself. "

"I have naught to defend. I broke the cup against my will, " said Colin. 

"That I verily believe, " said Marietta, sobbing. "I am as guilty as he;for I offended him--then he threw the ribbon and flowers to me. He couldnot help it. "

"Well!" cried Mother Manon. "Do you intend to defend him? Mr. Justice, pronounce his sentence. He has broken the cup, and he does not deny it. "

"Since you cannot deny it, Mr. Colin, " said the Justice, "you must paythree hundred livres for the cup, for it is worth that; and then for--"

"No, " interrupted Colin, "it is not worth that. I bought it at Vence forMarietta for a hundred livres. "

"You bought it, sir brazen face?" shrieked the Justice, and his wholeface became like Marietta's hat-hand. He could not and would not saymore, for he dreaded a disagreeable investigation of the matter. 

But Colin was vexed at the imputation, and said: "I sent this cup onthe evening of the fair, by your own servant, to Marietta. There standsJacques in the door. Speak, Jacques, did I not give thee the box tocarry to Mother Manon?"

Monsieur Hautmartin wished to interrupt this conversation by speakingloudly. But the simple Jacques said: "Only recollect, Justice, you tookaway Colin's box from me, and carried what was in it to Mother Manon. The box lies there under the papers. "

Then the bailiffs were ordered to remove the simpleton; and Colin wasalso directed to retire, until he should be sent for again. 

"Very well, Mr. Justice, " interposed Colin, "but this business shall beyour last in Napoule. I know this, that you would ingratiate yourselfwith Mother Manon and Marietta by means of my property. When you wantme, you will have to ride to Grasse to the Governor's. " With that, Colindeparted. 

Monsieur Hautmartin was quite puzzled with this affair, and in hisconfusion knew not what he was about. Manon shook her head. The affairwas dark and mysterious to her. "Who will now pay me for the brokencup?" she asked. 

"To me, " said Marietta, with glowing, brightened countenance, "to _me_it is already paid for. "

Colin rode that same day to the Governor at Grasse, and came backearly the next morning. But Justice Hautmartin only laughed at him, andremoved all of Mother Manon's suspicions by swearing he would let hisnose be cut off if Colin did not pay three hundred livres for the brokencup. He also went with Mother Manon to talk with Father Jerome aboutthe marriage, and impressed upon him the necessity of earnestly settingbefore Marietta her duty _as_ an obedient daughter in not opposingthe will of her mother. This the pious old man promised, although heunderstood not the half of what they shouted in his ear. 

When Monday morning came Mother Manon said to her daughter: "Dressyourself handsomely, and carry this myrtle wreath to Father Jerome; hewants it for a bride. " Marietta dressed herself in her Sunday clothes, took the myrtle wreath unsuspiciously, and carried it to Father Jerome. 

On the way Colin met her, and greeted her joyfully, though timidly; andwhen she told him where she was taking the wreath, Colin said: "I amgoing the same way, for I am carrying the money for the church's tenthsto the priest. " And as they went on he took her hand silently, and bothtrembled as if they designed some crime against each other. 

"Hast thou forgiven me?" whispered Colin, anxiously. "Ah! Marietta, whathave I done to thee, that thou art so cruel toward me?"

She could only say: "Be quiet, Colin, you shall have the ribbon again;and I will preserve the cup since it came from you! Did it really comefrom you?"

"Ah! Marietta, canst thou doubt it? All I have I would gladly give thee. Wilt thou, hereafter, be as kind to me as thou art to others?"

She replied not. But as she entered the parsonage she looked aside athim, and when she saw his fine eyes filled with tears, she whisperedsoftly: "Dear Colin!" Then he bent down and kissed her hand. With thisthe door of a chamber opened and Father Jerome, with venerable aspect, stood before them. The young couple held fast to each other. I know notwhether this was the effect of the hand-kissing, or the awe they feltfor the sage. 

Marietta handed him the myrtle wreath. He laid it upon her head andsaid: "Little children, love one another;" and then urged the goodmaiden, in the most touching and pathetic manner, to love Colin. Forthe old gentleman, from his hardness of hearing, had either mistaken thename of the bridegroom, or forgotten it, and thought Colin must be thebridegroom. 

Then Marietta's heart softened under the exhortation, and with tears andsobs she exclaimed: "Ah! I have loved him for a long time, but he hatesme. "

"I hate thee, Marietta?" cried Colin. "My soul has lived only in theesince thou earnest to Napoule. Oh! Marietta, how could I hope andbelieve that thou didst love me? Does not all Napoule worship thee?"

"Why, then, dost thou avoid me, Colin, and prefer all my companionsbefore me?"

"Oh! Marietta, I feared and trembled with love and anxiety when I beheldthee; I had not the courage to approach thee; and when I was away fromthee I was most miserable. "

As they talked thus with each other the good father thought they werequarreling; and he threw his arms around them, brought them together, and said imploringly: "Little children, love one another. "

Then Marietta sank on Colin's breast, and Colin threw his arms aroundher, and both faces beamed with rapture. They forgot the priest, thewhole world. Each was sunk into the other, Both had so completely losttheir recollection that, unwittingly, they followed the delightfulFather Jerome into the church and before the altar. 

"Marietta!" sighed he. 

"Colin!" sighed she. 

In the church there were many devout worshipers; but they witnessedColin's and Marietta's marriage with amazement. Many ran out before theclose of the ceremony, to spread the news throughout Napoule: "Colin andMarietta are married. "

When the solemnization was over, Father Jerome rejoiced that he hadsucceeded so well, and that such little opposition had been made by theparties. He led them into the parsonage. 

Then Mother Manon arrived, breathless; she had waited at home a longtime for the bride-groom. He had not arrived. At the last stroke of theclock she grew anxious and went to Monsieur Hautmartin's. There anewsurprise awaited her. She learned that the Governor, together withthe officers of the Viguerie, had appeared and taken possession ofthe accounts, chests, and papers of the justice and at the same timearrested Monsieur Hautmartin. 

"This, surely, is the work of that wicked Colin, " thought she, andhurried to the parsonage in order to apologize to Father Jerome fordelaying the marriage. The good gray-headed old man advanced toward her, proud of his work, and leading by the hand the newly married pair. 

Now Mother Manon lost her wits and her speech in good earnest when shelearned what had happened. But Colin had more thoughts and power ofspeech than in his whole previous life. He told of his love and thebroken cup, the falsehood of the justice, and how he had unmasked thisunjust magistrate in the Viguerie at Grasse. Then he besought MotherManon's blessing, since all this had happened without any fault on thepart of Marietta or himself. 

Father Jerome, who for a long while could not make out what hadhappened, when he received a full explanation of the marriage throughmistake, piously folded his hands and exclaimed, with uplifted eyes:"Wonderful are the dispensations of Providence!" Colin and Mariettakissed his hands; Mother Manon, through sheer veneration of heaven, gavethe young couple her blessing, but remarked incidentally that her headseemed turned round. 

Mother Manon herself was pleased with her son-in-law when she came toknow the full extent of his property, and especially when she found thatMonsieur Hautmartin and his nose had been arrested. 

"But am I then really a wife?" asked Marietta; "and really Colin'swife?"

Mother Manon nodded her head, and Marietta hung upon Colin's arm. Thusthey went to Colin's farm, to his dwelling-house, through the garden. 

"Look at the flowers, Marietta, " said Colin; "how carefully I cultivatedthem for your cup!"

Colin, who had not expected so pleasant an event, now prepared a weddingfeast on the spur of the occasion. Two days was it continued. AllNapoule was feasted. Who shall describe Colin's extravagance?

The broken cup is preserved in the family to the present day as amemorial and sacred relic.