226 THE MOTHER OP VICTOR HUGO. of the war lie was obliged to set out for Paris, he had obtained from Sophie Tr^buchet a promise to marry him, and to do all in her power to hasten their union. Her father had first to be won over, and this was by no means an easy task. At length, however, she succeeded. She was a slender, delicate little creature, with the hands and feet of a child, and a face not beautiful, but rendered pleasing in spite of some slight traces of small- pox by its expression of good will, firmness, and intelli- gence. Moreover, she was a person of independent judg- ment and of much practical capacity ; she had long been, her father's housekeeper and adviser, as well as his devoted daughter, and now that she had set her heart upon a marriage of which he did not approve, but against which there were none but political reasons, the old man felt obliged to let her have her way. He consented, although reluctantly and with serious misgivings as to her future happiness. Meanwhile Major Hugo was in Paris, where he had formed an intimacy with a young man named Pierre Foucher, a native of Nantes, who had known the Tre*buchet family. Beside this strong bond between them there was another : Foucher was also in love, and about to marry. They lodged in the same building, the Hotel de Ville, and spent their leisure hours together, occasionally discussing politics, in which they were opposed, and much oftener their love affairs, in which they were of the same opinion: namely, that when a young couple were once engaged, the sooner they were married the better. Major Hugo's wedding was the first to take place. As it was impossible for him to leave his post and go to Nantes, his bride came to Paris, accompanied by ,her father. The marriage was celebrated according to the civil form, and the happy pair therefore were not even obliged
