Second Part Chapter 49

MARIE GASTON TO DANIEL D'ARTHEZ
October 1833.

My Dear Daniel,--I need two witnesses for my marriage. I beg of you to
come to-morrow evening for this purpose, bringing with you our worthy
and honored friend, Joseph Bridau. She who is to be my wife, with an
instinctive divination of my dearest wishes, has declared her
intention of living far from the world in complete retirement. You,
who have done so much to lighten my penury, have been left in
ignorance of my love; but you will understand that absolute secrecy
was essential.

This will explain to you why it is that, for the last year, we have
seen so little of each other. On the morrow of my wedding we shall be
parted for a long time; but, Daniel, you are of stuff to understand
me.

Friendship can subsist in the absence of the friend. There may be
times when I shall want you badly, but I shall not see you, at least
not in my own house. Here again she has forestalled our wishes. She
has sacrificed to me her intimacy with a friend of her childhood, who
has been a sister to her. For her sake, then, I also must relinquish
my comrade! From this fact alone you will divine that ours is no mere passing
fancy, but love, absolute, perfect, godlike; love based upon the
fullest knowledge that can bind two hearts in sympathy. To me it is a
perpetual spring of purest delight.