BOOK 3, Chptr. 5, P&V pg. 228

Book 3, Chapter 5

After seeing Anatole and Mademoiselle Bourienne embracing, Mary declines the marriage offer and vows to never leave the Old Prince.

Summary:

Everyone except Anatole had trouble falling asleep that night. Princess Mary lay awake thinking about marrying Anatole. Something about this scared her, though. In the morning, her father told her of the offer, saying it was up to her to decide, although he did hint at Anatole’s apparent interest in Mademoiselle Bourienne. The Old Prince gave Mary just one hour to make up her mind. After leaving her father’s study, Mary happened upon Anatole and Mademoiselle Bourienne in a romantic embrace. When the hour is up, she declines the offer of marriage. She tells the old Prince My desire is never to leave you, Father, never to separate my life from yours.” Later on, rather than being angry with Bourienne, Mary plans to try to help her. Mary reasons that Bourienne must love Anatole very much to behave as she did.

quote from the chapter:

Go to your room, think it over, and come back in an hour and tell me in his presence: yes or no. I know you will pray over it. Well, pray if you like, but you had better think it over. Go! Yes or no, yes or no, yes or no! he still shouted when the princess, as if lost in a fog, had already staggered out of the study.
Her fate was decided and happily decided. But what her father had said about Mademoiselle Bourienne was dreadful. It was untrue to be sure, but still it was terrible, and she could not help thinking of it. She was going straight on through the conservatory, neither seeing nor hearing anything, when suddenly the well-known whispering of Mademoiselle Bourienne aroused her. She raised her eyes, and two steps away saw Anatole embracing the Frenchwoman and whispering something to her.

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