# XVI: Little Marie explained — The Devil’s Pool

> Chapter companion for The Devil’s Pool by George Sand.

## What happens

Germain, urged by his mother-in-law, finally speaks to Little Marie about marriage. Despite his fears of rejection, Marie reveals her love for him, and they embrace just as Petit-Pierre arrives.

## Themes in this chapter

### Love and Marriage

The chapter centers on Germain's proposal to Little Marie and the mutual confession of love, leading to a marriage agreement.

### Family and Parenthood

Mother Maurice's involvement and Petit-Pierre's arrival highlight the role of family in Germain's romantic life.

## Character check-ins

### Germain

Germain, encouraged by his mother-in-law, goes to speak with Little Marie about marriage, expressing his love and fear of rejection.

### Marie

Little Marie, initially thoughtful and trembling, eventually confesses her love for Germain and embraces him.

### Petit-Pierre

Petit-Pierre arrives on a stick horse with his little sister, interrupting Germain and Marie's embrace.

### Mother Maurice

Mother Maurice urges Germain to speak to Little Marie, giving her approval and insisting he resolve the uncertainty.

## Key lines

> Little Marie,” said he, sitting down near her, “I come to trouble you and to give you pain. I know it very well, but the man and his wife at home wish me to speak to you, and beg you to marry me. You don’t care for me. I am prepared for it.

Germain tells Marie he knows his proposal will upset her, but his in-laws insist he ask her to marry him, and he expects her refusal.

_Germain's reluctant and self-deprecating approach to proposing._

> Oh, Germain,” she sobbed, “didn’t you feel that I loved you?”

Marie cries and asks Germain how he could not realize she loved him.

_Marie's emotional confession of love._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_devil_s_pool_se/chapters/xvi-little-marie
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_devil_s_pool_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_devil_s_pool_se/chapters