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diff --git a/23779-h/23779-h.htm b/23779-h/23779-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..82f2fda --- /dev/null +++ b/23779-h/23779-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,9457 @@ +<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Strict//EN" + "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-strict.dtd"> + +<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"> + <head> + <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html;charset=iso-8859-1" /> + <title> + The Project Gutenberg eBook of A Little Girl In Old Quebec, by Amanda M. Douglas. + </title> + <style type="text/css"> +/*<![CDATA[ XML blockout */ +<!-- + p { margin-top: .75em; + text-align: justify; + margin-bottom: .75em; + } + h1,h2,h3,h4,h5,h6 { + text-align: center; /* all headings centered */ + clear: both; + } + hr { width: 33%; + margin-top: 2em; + margin-bottom: 2em; + margin-left: auto; + margin-right: auto; + clear: both; + } + + table {margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;} + + body{margin-left: 10%; + margin-right: 10%; + } + + .pagenum { /* uncomment the next line for invisible page numbers */ + /* visibility: hidden; */ + position: absolute; + left: 92%; + font-size: smaller; + text-align: right; + } /* page numbers */ + + .linenum {position: absolute; top: auto; left: 4%;} /* poetry number */ + .blockquot{margin-left: 5%; margin-right: 10%;} + .sidenote {width: 20%; padding-bottom: .5em; padding-top: .5em; + padding-left: .5em; padding-right: .5em; margin-left: 1em; + float: right; clear: right; margin-top: 1em; + font-size: smaller; color: black; background: #eeeeee; border: dashed 1px;} + + .bb {border-bottom: solid 2px;} + .bl {border-left: solid 2px;} + .bt {border-top: solid 2px;} + .br {border-right: solid 2px;} + .bbox {border: solid 2px;} + + .center {text-align: center;} + .smcap {font-variant: small-caps;} + .u {text-decoration: underline;} + + .caption {font-weight: bold;} + + .figcenter {margin: auto; text-align: center;} + + .figleft {float: left; clear: left; margin-left: 0; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-top: + 1em; margin-right: 1em; padding: 0; text-align: center;} + + .figright {float: right; clear: right; margin-left: 1em; margin-bottom: 1em; + margin-top: 1em; margin-right: 0; padding: 0; text-align: center;} + + .footnotes {border: dashed 1px;} + .footnote {margin-left: 10%; margin-right: 10%; font-size: 0.9em;} + .footnote .label {position: absolute; right: 84%; text-align: right;} + .fnanchor {vertical-align: super; font-size: .8em; text-decoration: none;} + + .poem {margin-left:10%; margin-right:10%; text-align: left;} + .poem br {display: none;} + .poem .stanza {margin: 1em 0em 1em 0em;} + .poem span.i0 {display: block; margin-left: 0em; padding-left: 3em; text-indent: -3em;} + .poem span.i2 {display: block; margin-left: 2em; padding-left: 3em; text-indent: -3em;} + .poem span.i4 {display: block; margin-left: 4em; padding-left: 3em; text-indent: -3em;} + // --> + /* XML end ]]>*/ + </style> + </head> +<body> + + +<pre> + +Project Gutenberg's A Little Girl in Old Quebec, by Amanda Millie Douglas + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: A Little Girl in Old Quebec + +Author: Amanda Millie Douglas + +Release Date: December 9, 2007 [EBook #23779] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK A LITTLE GIRL IN OLD QUEBEC *** + + + + +Produced by Marilynda Fraser-Cunliffe, J.P.W. Fraser, Mary +Meehan and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at +http://www.pgdp.net + + + + + + +</pre> + + +<div class="figcenter"> +<a href="images/cover_oq.jpg"><img src="images/cover_oq.jpg" alt=""/></a> +</div> +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> + + +<h1>A LITTLE GIRL IN OLD QUEBEC</h1> + +<h2>By AMANDA M. DOUGLAS</h2> + + + +<h3>A. L. BURT COMPANY<br /> +<span class="smcap">Publishers New York</span></h3> + +<h3>Copyright, 1906<br /> +<span class="smcap">By Dodd, Mead & Company</span></h3> + + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CONTENTS</h2> + +<!-- Autogenerated TOC. Modify or delete as required. --> +<p> +<a href="#CHAPTER_I">CHAPTER I. <span class="smcap">A Wild Rose</span></a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_II">CHAPTER II. <span class="smcap">The Joy of Friendship</span></a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_III">CHAPTER III. <span class="smcap">Summer Time</span></a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_IV">CHAPTER IV. <span class="smcap">A Husband</span></a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_V">CHAPTER V. <span class="smcap">Changing About</span></a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_VI">CHAPTER VI. <span class="smcap">Finding Amusements</span></a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_VII">CHAPTER VII. <span class="smcap">Journeying to a Far Country</span></a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_VIII">CHAPTER VIII. <span class="smcap">What Rose Did Not Like</span></a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_IX">CHAPTER IX. <span class="smcap">About Marriages</span></a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_X">CHAPTER X. <span class="smcap">Miladi and M. Destournier</span></a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_XI">CHAPTER XI. <span class="smcap">A Feast of Summer</span></a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_XII">CHAPTER XII. <span class="smcap">A Lover in Earnest</span></a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_XIII">CHAPTER XIII. <span class="smcap">From a Girl's Heart</span></a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_XIV">CHAPTER XIV. <span class="smcap">A Way over Thorns</span></a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_XV">CHAPTER XV. <span class="smcap">Held in an Enemy's Grasp</span></a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_XVI">CHAPTER XVI. <span class="smcap">A Lover of the Wilderness</span></a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_XVII">CHAPTER XVII. <span class="smcap">The Passing of Old Quebec</span></a><br /><br /> + +<a href="#The_Little_Girl_Series"><span class="smcap"> The "Little Girl" Series</span></a> +</p> +<!-- End Autogenerated TOC. --> + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>A LITTLE GIRL IN OLD QUEBEC</h2> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_I" id="CHAPTER_I"></a>CHAPTER I</h2> + +<h3>A WILD ROSE</h3> + + +<p>Ralph Destournier went gayly along, whistling a merry French song that +was nearly all chorus, climbing, slipping, springing, wondering in his +heart as many a man did then what had induced Samuel de Champlain to +dream out a city on this craggy, rocky spot. Yet its wildness had an +impressive grandeur. Above the island of Orleans the channel narrowed, +and there were the lovely green heights of what was to be Point Levis, +more attractive, he thought, than these frowning cliffs. The angle +between the St. Charles and St. Lawrence gave an impregnable site for a +fortress, and Champlain was a born soldier with a quick eye to seize on +the possibility of defence.</p> + +<p>On the space between the cliffs and the water a few wooden buildings, +rough hewn, marked the site of the lower town. A wall had been erected, +finished with a gallery, loopholed for musketry, and within this were +the beginnings of a town that was to be famous for heroic deeds, for men +of high courage, for quaintness that perpetuates old stories which are +perfect romances yet to-day after the lapse of three centuries.</p> + +<p>There was a storehouse quite well fortified, there was a courtyard with +some fine walnut trees, and a few gardens stretching out with pleasant +greenery, while doves were flying about in wide circles, a reminder of +home. Ralph Destournier had a spirit of adventure and Champlain was a +great hero to him. Coming partly of Huguenot stock he had fewer chances +at home, and he believed there was more liberty in the new world, a +better outlook for a restless, eager mind.</p> + +<p>He went on climbing over the sun-baked cliffs, while here and there in a +depression where rain could linger there were patches of verdure, trees +that somehow maintained a footing. How unlike the level old seaport town +where he had passed a good part of his youth, considered his +grandfather's heir, when in the turn of fortune's wheel the sturdy old +Huguenot had been killed in battle and his estates confiscated.</p> + +<p>Something stirred up above him, not any small animal either. It crackled +the bushes and moved about with a certain agility. Could it be a deer? +He raised his gun.</p> + +<p>Then a burst of song held him in amaze. It was not a bird, though it +seemed to mock several of them. There were no especial words or rhymes, +but the music thrilled him. He strode upward. Out of a leafy bower +peered a face, child or woman, he could not tell at first, a crown of +light, loose curling hair and two dark, soft merry eyes, a cherry-red +mouth and dimpled chin.</p> + +<p>"Hello! How did you get up there?" he asked in his astonishment. Indians +sometimes lurked about.</p> + +<p>"I climbed. You did not suppose I flew?"</p> + +<p>The tone was merry rather than saucy, and taking a few steps nearer, he +saw she was quite a child. But she wore no cap and she shook the +wind-blown hair aside with a dainty gesture. There was a fearlessness +about her that charmed him.</p> + +<p>"And you live—here?"</p> + +<p>"Not here in the woods—no. But down in the town. Down there by the +garden, M'sieu Hébert and the General. And Maman has one. But I hate +working in it. So I ran away. Do you know what will happen to me when I +go back?"</p> + +<p>"No, what?" with a sense of amusement. "Perhaps you will get no supper!"</p> + +<p>"I shall be whipped. And to-morrow I shall not be let out of the garden. +When I get to be a woman I won't work in the garden. I won't even have a +husband. They make you do just as they like. Why isn't one's way as good +as another's?"</p> + +<p>A line of perplexity settled between her eyes that were soft enough to +melt the heart of a stone, he thought, if stones really had hearts.</p> + +<p>"Older people are generally wiser. And mothers——"</p> + +<p>"Oh, she isn't my mother," interrupted the child. "Even Catherine was +not my mother. I was very sorry for that. She was good and tender, but +she died. And Jean was very angry because she was not my real mother, +and he would have nothing to do with me. So he brought me to Maman. Oh, +it was a long while ago. Maman is good in some ways. She gives me plenty +to eat when we have it and she does not beat me often, as she does +Pani."</p> + +<p>"And who is Pani?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, the little slave. His tribe was driven away after they had lost +their battle, but some of the children were left behind and they are +slaves. Do you suppose the Indians will ever conquer M. de Champlain? +Then we should be slaves—or killed."</p> + +<p>He shuddered. Already he had heard tales of awful cruelty in the +treatment of prisoners.</p> + +<p>"Are you not afraid some Indians may be prowling about?" and he glanced +furtively around.</p> + +<p>"Oh, they do not come here. They are good friends with M. de Champlain. +And the fort is guarded. I should hide if one came."</p> + +<p>She began to descend and presently reached his level.</p> + +<p>"There are long shadows. It gets to be supper time."</p> + +<p>He smiled. "Are the shadows your clock hands?"</p> + +<p>"We have no clock. M. de Champlain carries his in his pocket. But you +see the sun sends long shadows over to the east. It is queer. The sun +keeps going round. What is on the other side?"</p> + +<p>"It would take a good deal of study to understand it all," he returned +gravely.</p> + +<p>"I like to hear them talk. There are wonderful places. And where is +India? Can any one find the passage they are looking for and sail round +the world?"</p> + +<p>"They have sailed round it."</p> + +<p>"And have you seen Paris and the King?"</p> + +<p>"I fought for the dead King. And Paris—why, you cannot imagine anything +like it."</p> + +<p>"Ah, but we are going to have new France here. And perhaps Paris."</p> + +<p>There were pride and gladness in her voice. He smiled inwardly, he would +not disturb her childish dream. Would she ever see the beautiful city +and the pageants that were almost daily occurrences?</p> + +<p>"When did you come here?" she asked presently.</p> + +<p>"A fortnight ago, when the storeship arrived."</p> + +<p>"Ah, yes. Maman and I went to see it and M. Hébert sent us some curious, +delicious dried fruits. M. de Champlain is quite sure we shall grow them +in time and have beautiful gardens, and fine people who know many +things. Can you read?"</p> + +<p>"Why, yes"—laughing.</p> + +<p>"I wish I could. But we have no books. Maman thinks it a waste of time, +except for the men who must do business and write letters. Can you write +letters?"</p> + +<p>"Yes"—studying her with amusement.</p> + +<p>"Catherine could read. But she had no books. I once learned some of the +letters. Jean could make figures."</p> + +<p>"Where is he?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, off with the fur-hunters. And Antoine makes ever so much money. And +he says he and Maman will go back to France. And I suppose they will +leave me here. Antoine has two brothers and one is at Brouage, where M. +de Champlain was born."</p> + +<p>She leaped from point to point in a graceful, agile manner, ran swiftly +down some declivity, while he held his breath, it seemed so fraught with +danger, but she only looked back laughingly. What a daring midget she +was!</p> + +<p>And when they were in sight of the palisades they saw a group of men, +Pontgrave and Champlain among them. Destournier quickened his pace and +touched his hat to them with a reverent grace.</p> + +<p>"Have you had a guide?" and Champlain held out his hand to the little +girl while he asked the question of Destournier. She took Champlain's +hand in both of hers and pressed it against her cheek. Pontgrave smiled +at her as well.</p> + +<p>Destournier glanced up at the eminence where he had first seen the +moving figure. How steep and unapproachable!</p> + +<p>"Could you find no fairer site for a new Paris?" he inquired smilingly. +"How will you get up and down the streets when you come to that?"</p> + +<p>"Is it not the key to the north and a natural fortress? Look you, with a +cannon at its base and over opposite, no trading vessel could steal up, +no hostile man-of-war invade us. There will come a time when the old +world will divide this mighty continent between them and the struggle +will be tremendous. It will behoove France to see that her entrances are +well guarded. And from this point we must build. What could be a +fairer, prouder, more invincible heritage for France? For we shall sweep +across the continent, we shall have the whole of the fur trade in time. +We shall build great cities," and Champlain's face glowed with the pride +he took in the new world.</p> + +<p>Yet it was a small beginning, and a less intrepid soul would have been +daunted by the many discouragements. A few dwelling houses, a moat with +a drawbridge, and the space of land running down to the river divided +into gardens. The Sieur de Champlain found time to sow various seeds, +wheat and rye as well, to set out berries brought from the woods and +native grape vines that were better fitted to withstand the rigorous +climate. But now it was simply magnificent, glowing with the early +autumn suns.</p> + +<p>"I have a good neighbor who takes a great interest in these things. You +must inspect Mère Dubray's garden. With a dozen emigrants like her we +should have the wilderness abloom. She rivals Hébert. We must have some +agriculture. We cannot depend on the mother country for all our food. +And if the Indians can raise corn and other needful supplies, why not +we?"</p> + +<p>"Ah, ha! little truant!" cried Mère Dubray, with a sharp glance at the +child, "where hast thou been all the afternoon, while weeds have been +growing apace?"</p> + +<p>"She has been playing guide to a stranger," explained Destournier, "and +I have found her most interesting. It has been time well spent."</p> + +<p>Mère Dubray smiled. She always felt honored by the encomiums of M. de +Champlain. She was proud of her garden, as well, and pleased to have +visitors inspect it. Indeed the young man thought he had seen no neater +gardens in sunny France.</p> + +<p>"Mère Dubray," he said, "convert this young man into an emigrant. I am a +little sorry to have him begin in the autumn when the summer is so much +more enticing. But if the worst is taken first there is hope for better +to cheer the heart."</p> + +<p>Something about her brought to mind the women of old France who sturdily +fought their way to a certain prosperity. She was rather short and +stout, but with no loosely-hanging flesh, her hair was still coal-black, +with a sharp sort of waviness, and her eyes had the sparkle of beads. +Her brown skin was relieved by a warm color in the cheeks and the red, +rather smiling lips. No one could imagine the child hers. It was nothing +to him, yet he felt rather glad.</p> + +<p>Destournier was very friendly, however, and found her really +intelligent. The little girl ran hither and thither, quite a privileged +character. There were very few children beyond the Indians and +half-breeds. The fur-hunters often went through a sort of ceremony with +the Indian girls during their weeks of dickering with the traders. Some +returned another season to renew their vows, others sought new loves.</p> + +<p>"I suppose the child has some sort of story?" he said to Champlain as +they sat in the evening smoking their pipes.</p> + +<p>"The child? The reputed mother came over with some emigrants sent by the +King, and as a widow she married Jean Arlac. He, it seems, was much +disappointed at not having children of his own and was not over-cordial +to the little girl. Rather more than a year ago his wife was taken ill, +she had never been robust. And in her last moments she confessed the +child was not her own, but that of a friend, and before she told the +whole story a convulsion seized her. Jean was very angry and declared +the child was nothing to him. He brought it to Mère Dubray and then went +off to the fur regions, from whence the tidings came that he had married +an Indian woman and taken a post station. She is a bright little thing, +and I think must have come of gentle people. Her only trinket is a chain +and locket, with a sweet young face in it."</p> + +<p>"But there is no chance here for any sort of education. She seems +naturally intelligent."</p> + +<p>"There will be soon. There is a plan to bring out some nuns, and we +shall build a chapel. We cannot do everything at once. The mother +country cannot be roused to the importance of this step. It is not +simply to discover, one must hold with a secure hand. And we must make +homes, we must people them."</p> + +<p>Pontgrave was to return to France. Ralph Destournier had half a mind to +accompany him, but he was young and adventurous and desirous of seeing +more of this strange country. At last he cast in his lot with them for +the year at least.</p> + +<p>October was a gorgeous month with its changing colors, its rather sharp +nights when the log fires were a delight, and its days of sunshine that +brought a summer warmth at noon. At night the sky sparkled with stars.</p> + +<p>The buildings were calked on the outside and hung with furs within. +Harsh winds swept down from the northwest, everything was hooded with +snow. Now one counted stores carefully and wasted nothing, though +Champlain's ever sympathetic heart dealt out a little from his not too +abundant supplies to the wandering Montagnais and gave their women and +children food and shelter. There was a continual fight to keep even +tolerably well. Scurvy was one enemy, a low sort of fever another.</p> + +<p>There were many plans to make for the opening of spring. Yet Ralph +Destournier would have found it intolerably dull but for the little girl +whose name was Rose. He taught her to read—Champlain fortunately had +some books in French and Latin. There were bits of old history, a volume +of Terence, another of Virgil, and out of what he knew and read he +reconstructed stories that charmed her. Most of all she liked to hear +about the King. The romances of Henry of Navarre fired her +rapidly-awakening imagination.</p> + +<p>Destournier took several little excursions with the intrepid explorer +before the severest of the winter set in. What faith he had in this +wonderful new France that was to add so much glory and prosperity to the +old world! If its rulers could have but looked through his eyes and had +his aims. There was Tadoussac, there was the upper St. Charles, where +Jacques Cartier and his men had passed a winter that in spite of the +utmost heroism had ended in the tragedy of death. To the south there was +a sturdy band of Englishmen trying the same experiment, not merely for +their King and country, but also some reward for themselves. Neither +were they eager to plant the standard of religion; that was left for +Puritans and French missionaries.</p> + +<p>It seemed to Destournier that the scheme of colonization was hardly +worth while. He had not Champlain's enthusiasm—there was much to do for +France, and that land had always to be on the defensive with England. +Would it not be so here in the years to come? And the Indians would be a +continual menace.</p> + +<p>But there was a whole continent to convert, to civilize. He went back to +the times of Charlemagne and the struggles that had brought out a +glorious France. And no one had given up the passage to India. Lying +westward was a great river, and what was beyond that no one knew. It was +the province of man to find out.</p> + +<p>It was a dull life for a little girl in the winter. Rose almost longed +for the garden, even if weeds did grow apace. In the old country Mère +Dubray had spun flax and wool, here there was none to spin. She had +learned a little work from the Indian women, but she was severely +plain. What need of fringes and bead work and laying feathers in rows to +be stitched on with a sort of thread made of fine, tough grass? And as +for cooking, one had to be economical and make everything with a view to +real sustenance, not the high art of cooking, though her peasant life +had inducted her into this.</p> + +<p>The little girl made a playhouse in one corner of the cabin and stood up +sticks for Indian children to whom she told over what had been taught +her. They blundered just as she had done, but she had a curious patience +with them that would have touched one's heart.</p> + +<p>"What nonsense!" Mère Dubray would exclaim. "It is well enough for men, +and priests must know Latin prayers, but this is beyond anything a woman +needs. And to be repeating it to sticks——"</p> + +<p>"But I get so lonely when they are all away," and the child sighed. "The +real Indian girls were a pleasure, but I'm afraid you could not teach +them to read any more than these make-believes."</p> + +<p>"Yes, winter is a dreary time. I'm not sure but I would rather be up in +the fur country with my man. It seems they find plenty of game."</p> + +<p>There was not so much game here, for the Indians were ever on the alert +and the roving bands always on the verge of starvation. But once in a +while there was a feast of fresh meat and Mère Dubray made tasty messes +for the hungry men.</p> + +<p>Rose, bundled up in furs sometimes, ran around the gallery where they +had cleared the snow. Then there were the forge and the workshop, where +the men were hewing immense walnut trees into slabs and posts for spring +building. Some days the doves were let out of the cote in the sunshine +and it was fascinating to see them circle around. They knew the little +girl and would alight on her shoulder and eat grains out of her hand, +coo to her and kiss her. Destournier loved to watch her, a real child of +nature, innocent as the doves themselves. Mère Dubray had scarcely more +idea of the seriousness of life or the demands of another existence +beyond. She told her beads, prayed to her patron saint with small idea +of what heaven might be like, unless it was the beautiful little hamlet +where she was born. And as she was not sure the child had been +christened, she thought it best to wait for the advent of a priest to +direct her in the right way.</p> + +<p>She was not a little horrified by Destournier's curious familiarity with +God and heaven, as it seemed to her. Rose understood almost intuitively +that it terrified her, that it seemed a sacrilege, though she would not +have known what the word meant. So she said very little about it—it was +a beautiful land beyond the sky where people went when they died. +Sometimes, when the wonderful beauty of sunset moved her to a strange +ecstasy, she longed to be transported thither. And in the moving white +drifts she saw angel forms with out-stretched arms and called to them.</p> + +<p>The beginning of the new year was bitter indeed. Snow piled mountain +high, it seemed a whole world of snow. For windows they had cloth +soaked in oil, but now the curtains of fur were dropped within and a +barricade raised without. There were only the blazing logs to give light +and make shadows about. They hovered around it, ate nuts, parched corn, +and heated their smoked eels. They slept late in the morning and went to +bed early. The lack of exercise and vegetables told on health, and +towards spring more than one of the little band went their way to the +land beyond and left a painful vacancy. But one week there came a +marvellous change. The mountains of snow sank down into hills, there was +a rush in the river, the barricades were removed from the windows and +the fur hangings pushed aside to let in some welcome light.</p> + +<p>Rose ran around wild. "I can recall last spring," she said, with a burst +of gayety. "The trees coming out in leaf, the birds singing, the +blossoms——"</p> + +<p>"And the garden," interposed Destournier.</p> + +<p>Rose made a wry face.</p> + +<p>"It will be an excellent thing for you to run about out of doors. You +have lost your rosy cheeks."</p> + +<p>"But I am Rose still," she said archly.</p> + +<p>She ran gayly one day, she went up the stream in the canoe with +Destournier and was full of merriment. But the next day she felt +strangely languid. Most of the men had gone hunting. Mère Dubray was +piling away some of the heaviest furs.</p> + +<p>"Thou wilt roast there in the chimney corner," she said rather sharply. +"Get thee out of doors in the fresh air again. It is silly to think one +cannot stir without a troop of men tagging to one. Thou art too young +for such folly."</p> + +<p>"My legs ache," returned the child, "and my head feels queer and goes +round when I stir. And I am sleepy, as if there had not been any night."</p> + +<p>Mère Dubray glanced at her sharply.</p> + +<p>"Why, thy cheeks are red and thy eyes bright. Come, stir about or I +shall take a stick to thee. That will liven thee up."</p> + +<p>The child rose and made a few uncertain steps. Then she flung out her +hands wildly, and the next instant fell in a little heap on the floor.</p> + +<p>The elder looked at her in amaze and shook her rather roughly by the +arm. And now the redness was gone and the child had a strange gray look, +with her eyes rolled up so that only a little of the pupil showed.</p> + +<p>"Saint Elizabeth have mercy!" she cried. "The child is truly ill. And +she has been so well and strong. And the doctor gone up to Tadoussac!"</p> + +<p>She laid her on the rude couch. Rose began to mutter and then broke into +a pitiful whine. There were some herbs that every householder gathered, +there were secrets extorted from the squaws much more efficacious than +those of their medicine men. The little hand was burning hot; yes, it +was fever. There had been scurvy and dysentery, but she was a little +non-plussed by the fever. And the Sieur would not be here until +to-morrow; the doctor, no one knew when.</p> + +<p>She took out her chest of simples, a quaintly-made birchen-bark +receptacle. They had been carefully labelled by the doctor. Yes, here +was "fever"—here another. Which to take puzzled her.</p> + +<p>"I might try first one and then the other," she ruminated. "I would get +the good of both. And they might not mix well."</p> + +<p>She boiled some water and poured it over the herbs. It diffused a +bitter, but not unpleasant flavor. Then she put it out of doors to cool.</p> + +<p>Rose was sleeping heavily, but her eyes were half open and it startled +Mère Dubray.</p> + +<p>"A child is a great responsibility," she moaned to herself. "If the +Sieur were only here, or the doctor!" She woke her presently and +administered the potion. But it brought on a desperate sickness.</p> + +<p>"Perhaps I had better try the other." She took the hot, limp hand, the +cheeks were burning, but great drops of perspiration stood out on the +forehead. She twisted the soft hair in a knot and struck one of her +highly-prized pins through it, then she thought a night-cap would be +better. Only they would be a world too large for the child. But she +succeeded in pinning it to the right shape, though she grudged the two +pins. They were a great rarity in those days, and if one was lost hours +were spent hunting it up.</p> + +<p>The second dose fared better. There was nothing to do but let the child +sleep. She busied herself about the few household cares, studied the +weather and the signs of spring. Oh, was that a bird! Surely he was +early with his song. The river went rushing on joyously, leaping, +foaming as if glad to be unchained. The air had softened marvellously. +Ah, why should one be ill when spring had come!</p> + +<p>The kindly Mère repeated her dose. Towards night the fever seemed to +abate, but the child was desperately restless and the worthy woman much +troubled. Yet what was the child to her? to any one? And death was sure +to come sometime. She would be spared much trouble. She would also lose +much happiness. But was there any great share of it in this new world?</p> + +<p>Rose was no better the next day. The nausea returned and clearly she was +out of her head. But late this afternoon the Sieur and the young guest +returned and were so much alarmed they dispatched an Indian servitor +with instructions to bring the doctor at once.</p> + +<p>"A pretty severe case," he said, with a grave shake of the head. "You +have done the best you could, Mère Dubray, and children have wonderful +recuperative powers. So we will try."</p> + +<p>"Poor, pretty little thing," thought Destournier. "Will she find +anything worth living for?" Women had so few opportunities in those +times. And when one was poor and unknown, and in a strange country. Yet +he could not bear to think of her dying. There was always a hopeful +future to living.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_II" id="CHAPTER_II"></a>CHAPTER II</h2> + +<h3>THE JOY OF FRIENDSHIP</h3> + + +<p>She went down to the very boundaries of the other country, this little +Rose. One night and one day they gave her up. She lay white and silent +and Mère Dubray brought out a white muslin dress and ironed it up, much +troubled to know whether she had a right to Christian burial or not.</p> + +<p>And then she opened her eyes with their olden light and began to ask in +a weak voice what happened to her yesterday, and found her last +remembrance was six weeks agone.</p> + +<p>She could hardly raise her thin little hand, but all the air was sweet +with growing things. The tall trees had come into rich leafage, the +sunshine glowed upon the grass that danced as if each blade was +fairy-born, and sparkled on the river that went hurrying by as if to +tell a wonderful story. The great craggy upper town glinted in a +thousand varying tints, and at evening was wreathed in trailing mists +that seemed some strange army marching across. The thickly wooded hills +were nodding and smiling to each other, some native fruit trees were in +bloom, and the air was delicious with the scent of wild-grape +fragrance.</p> + +<p>"It was a bad fever. And we had no priest to call upon. As if people +here did not need one as well as in that wild place with a long name +where they are hunting copper and maybe gold. But thanks to the saints +and the good doctor, you have come through. Ah, we ought to have a +chapel at least where one could go and pray."</p> + +<p>"It is so beautiful and sweet. One would not want to be put in the +ground."</p> + +<p>She shuddered thinking of it.</p> + +<p>"No, no! And M. Pontgrave has come in with two ships. There is plenty of +provisions and fruits from La Belle France. See, M'sieu Ralph brought +them in for you. Now you have only to get well."</p> + +<p>Mère Dubray's face was alight with joy. The child smiled faintly.</p> + +<p>"And the Sieur de Champlain?" she asked.</p> + +<p>"Oh, he is as busy as any two men with plans for building up the town, +and workmen, and some women for wives—two of whom are married already, +though one couple did their courting on shipboard. Oh, you must soon get +about. We are going to have a rare summer."</p> + +<p>The child raised herself up a trifle and then sank back.</p> + +<p>"Oh, dear!" with a little cry.</p> + +<p>"Do not mind, <i>ma petite</i>. People are always so at first. To-morrow +maybe you can sit up, and a few days after walk. And then go out."</p> + +<p>"The world is so lovely and sweet," she murmured. And she was glad she +had not died.</p> + +<p>The next day M'sieu Ralph came in. He appeared changed some way, but the +old smile was there. The eyes seemed to have taken on a deeper blue +tint. She stretched out her hands.</p> + +<p>"Thank the good God that you are restored, little one," he exclaimed, +with deep fervor. "Only you are a shadow of the Rose who climbed rocks +like a joyous kid less than a year agone. When will you pilot me again?"</p> + +<p>She drew a long breath like a sigh.</p> + +<p>"And there have been so many happenings. There are new people, though no +little girls among them, for which I am sorry. And already they are +building houses. The Sieur de Champlain has great plans. He will have a +fine city if they work. Why, when thou art an old lady and goest dressed +in silks and velvets and furs, as the women of the mother country, thou +wilt have rare stories to tell to thy grandchildren. And no doubt thou +wilt have seen Paris as well."</p> + +<p>Then she smiled, but it was a pitiful attempt.</p> + +<p>It was true Quebec had received a wonderful hastening in the new-comers +and in several grants the King had made concerning the fur trade. The +dreary winter was a thing of the past.</p> + +<p>Destournier came in the next day and insisted the child should be +wrapped up and carried out in the sunshine. She seemed light as a baby +when he took her in his arms. He seated himself on a bench and held her +closely wound up in Mère's choicest blanket she had brought from St. +Malo, and which had been woven by her grandmother.</p> + +<p>Ah, how lovely that savage primeval beauty looked to the child, who felt +more than she could understand. Every pulse seemed instinct with new +life. The gardens with their beds of vegetables, the tall slim spikes of +onions which everybody had been requested to plant plentifully, the +feathery leaves of the young carrots, the beans already in white bloom, +the sword-like leaves of the corn hardly long enough to wave as yet, and +the river with boats and canoes—why, it had never been so brisk and +wonderful before.</p> + +<p>She drew in long breaths of health-giving fragrance. There had been some +trouble with the Indians and the Sieur de Champlain had gone to chastise +them. There were fur-traders on the way and soon everything would be +stirring with eager business. And when she could they would take a sail +around and up the St. Charles, and visit the islands, for besides Pani +the Mère had another Indian boy the Sieur had sent her, so there would +be no gardening for the small, white Rose. And he had made a new friend +for her, who was waiting anxiously to see her.</p> + +<p>Presently she went soundly asleep in the fragrant air, and he carried +her back and laid her on the bed. Mère Dubray came and looked at her and +shook her head. She was indeed a white Rose now. They had cut her hair +when she had tangled it with her tossing about, and it was now a bed of +golden rings, but the long lashes that were like a fringe on her cheeks +were black.</p> + +<p>"It will take her a good while to get back all she has lost," said the +young man. "It is little short of a miracle that she is here."</p> + +<p>She gained a little every day. But she felt very shaky when she walked +about, and light in the head. And then Destournier brought her a visitor +one afternoon, a lady the like of whom the child had not dreamed of in +her wildest imaginings, as she had listened to tales of royalty. A tall, +fair woman whose bright hair was a mass of puffs and short dainty curls +held by combs that sparkled with jewels, and the silken gown that was +strewn with brocaded roses on a soft gray ground. It had dainty ruffles +around the bottom that barely reached her ankles, and showed the clocked +and embroidered stockings and elegant slippers laced back and forth with +golden cord, and a buckle that sparkled with gems like the combs. Even +royalty condescended to wear imitation jewels, so why should not the +lower round? Her shapely shoulders were half veiled by a gauze scarf on +which were woven exquisite flowers.</p> + +<p>The child gazed with fascinated admiration. Did the Greek women +Destournier had read about, who won every heart, look like this?</p> + +<p>"This is the lady I told you of, little one, who has lately come from +France, Madame Giffard. And this is Rose——" He paused suddenly with a +half smile. "I believe the child has no other name."</p> + +<p>"Was she born here?" How soft and winning the voice was.</p> + +<p>Destournier flushed unconsciously.</p> + +<p>"She has a story and a mystery that no one has fathomed. The Sieur made +some inquiries. A woman of the better class who came over with some +emigrants brought her, and was supposed to be her mother. But some +secret lay heavy on her mind, it seemed, and when she was dying she +confessed that the child was not hers, but she had no time for +explanations. The husband brought her here and has gone to one of the +fur stations. His disappointment was so intense he gave up the child. +And so—her name is neither Arlac nor Dubray. We shall have to +rechristen her."</p> + +<p>"What a curious romance! If one knew what town she came from. Oh, my +little one, will you let me be your friend? I had a little golden-haired +girl who died when she was but four, and no children have come since to +gladden my heart."</p> + +<p>Madame Giffard bent over and took the small hand, noting the taper +fingers and slender wrist that seemed to indicate good birth. She +pressed it to her lips. Rose looked up trustfully and smiled.</p> + +<p>"I like you," she said, with frank earnestness.</p> + +<p>"Then I shall come to see you often. This is such a queer place with no +ready-made houses and really nothing but log huts or those made of rough +slabs. I wonder now how I had the courage to come. But I could not be +separated from my dear husband. And when he makes his fortune we shall +go back to our dearly beloved France."</p> + +<p>The child smiled. The story had no embarrassment for her—Catherine had +brought her from France and she had never called her mother until on +shipboard. Back of it was vague and misty, though Catherine was in it +all. But this beautiful woman with her soft voice, different from +anything she had ever heard—why, she liked her already almost as much +as M'sieu Ralph.</p> + +<p>"And you have been ill a long while?"</p> + +<p>"It seemed only a day when I first woke up. Then the snow was on the +ground. I was so cold. I wanted to go to sleep on the chimney seat and +Mère would not let me. And now everything is in bloom and the garden is +planted and the sun shines in very gladness. I shall never like winter +again," and she shuddered.</p> + +<p>"Are the winters so dreadful?" she inquired of Destournier.</p> + +<p>"I never knew anything like it. I can't understand why the Sieur de +Champlain should want to found a city here when the country south is so +much more congenial. Although this is the key to the North, as he says. +And there is a north to the continent over there."</p> + +<p>"You think there are fortunes to be made?"</p> + +<p>"For those who come to make them. But the mother country will squeeze +hard. We have not found the gold and silver yet. But after all, trade is +your best pioneer. And this is an era of exploring, of fame, rather than +money-getting. We are just coming to know there are other sides to the +world. Ah, here is Mère Dubray."</p> + +<p>The child glanced from one woman to the other. She saw the same +difference as there was between the workmen and the few of the better +class. Was it knowledge such as M'sieu Ralph had? And the good-hearted +home-making Mère scouted learning for women. Their business was cooking +and keeping the house. But she decided she liked the lady the best, just +as she liked M'sieu Ralph better than the brawny leathern- and fur-clad +workmen. But the Mère had been very good and never scolded her now.</p> + +<p>She brought in some little cakes and a glass of beer brewed from roots +and herbs. Madame Giffard thanked her and sipped it delicately. Some +vague memory haunted the child, as if she had seen this lady before with +the dead Catherine.</p> + +<p>"It is a wild, wild country. There is nothing like it in France," the +lady said, in a tone of disparagement. "And how one is to live——"</p> + +<p>"You were not in France two or three centuries ago," he returned +good-naturedly. "Most countries go through this period. Beginnings are +not always agreeable."</p> + +<p>"But I cannot admit this is a city. Yet they talk about it at home. The +furs are certainly fine. But the Indians! You are in fear of them all +the time. And if they should make an attack here?"</p> + +<p>"They will hardly dare now. Indeed one Indian tribe is practically wiped +out. And the fortifications are to be strengthened. We manage to keep +quite friendly, though we do not trust too far."</p> + +<p>"But it is horrible to live in perpetual fear," and she shuddered.</p> + +<p>"You must not look on that side of it. It is a hard country for women, I +shall have to admit."</p> + +<p>"But I have not come to stay, thank the saints. A year maybe at the +longest. My husband is to go back when he has—what you call +it—established his claim—concession. We like sunny France the best. +Only one wants a fortune to enjoy it."</p> + +<p>"That is true, too. But here one can do without. At least a man +can"—laughing a little as he surveyed the dainty figure.</p> + +<p>"A year," repeated the child. "How long is a year?"</p> + +<p>Mère Dubray had been standing in the doorway, waiting to take the cup +when my lady had finished. Now she said in an unemotional tone—</p> + +<p>"It is a summer and a winter. It was last May when Jean Arlac brought +you here."</p> + +<p>The child nodded thoughtfully and there came a far-away expression in +her eyes.</p> + +<p>"Jean Arlac went up to the fur country," she said to the guest.</p> + +<p>"Does he return when the furs come in?"</p> + +<p>She glanced at Mère Dubray, who shook her head.</p> + +<p>"He comes back no more. He has married an Indian woman. But my husband +will be here."</p> + +<p>"Does M. Gifford desire to go out himself?"</p> + +<p>"That is his plan, I believe. Can he get back before winter?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, yes, or by that time."</p> + +<p>"I shall come often to see the little one. And when they have finished +the—the hut, the child must come often to me. I have brought some +furnishings and pictures and a few books. There is much more in the old +château, and my aunt is there to take care of it. But I wanted some old +friends about me."</p> + +<p>At the mention of books Rose had glanced up eagerly at Destournier. Then +there was a sudden rush without. Both Indian boys were racing and +yelling in their broken language.</p> + +<p>"They are coming; they are coming! The canoes are in," and both began to +caper about.</p> + +<p>Mère Dubray took down a leathern thong and laid it about them; but they +were like eels and glided out of her reach.</p> + +<p>"One was bad enough, but I could manage him. The other"—and she gave +her shoulders a shrug.</p> + +<p>The lady laughed. "That is like home," she said.</p> + +<p>"It is quite a sight. And I hope you will not be frightened, for the +next few days. I had better escort you back, I think, for there will be +a crowd."</p> + +<p>They were guests of M. de Champlain, who had quite comfortable +quarters. Beside his governmental business he was much engrossed with a +history of his journeys and explorations and the maps he was making. All +the furnishings were plain, as became a hardy soldier who often slept +out in the open. But the keeping room already showed some traces of a +woman's love for adornment. He looked rather grim over it, but made no +comment.</p> + +<p>"I will come again to-morrow." Madame Giffard pressed a kiss upon the +white forehead. The child grasped her hand with convulsive warmth.</p> + +<p>An hour had changed the aspect of everything. Instead of the quiet, +deserted, winding ways, you could hardly call them streets, everything +seemed alive with a motley, moving throng. A long line of boats, and +what one might call a caravan, seemed to have risen from the very earth, +or been evolved from the wilderness. There were shouting and singing, +white men turned to brown by exposure, Indians, half-breeds of varying +shades, and attire that was really indescribable.</p> + +<p>"Is it an attack?" and Madame Giffard clung to her guide in affright.</p> + +<p>He laughed reassuringly.</p> + +<p>"It is only the awakening of Quebec after its long hibernation. They +have been expected some days. Ah, now you will see the true business +side and really believe the town flourishing, be able to carry a good +report back to France."</p> + +<p>They looked over the land side from the eminence of the fortifications. +Quebec did not mean to admit these roisterers within her precincts, +which were none too well guarded. Still the cannons looked rather +formidable from their embrasures. But as little would these lawless men +have cared to be under the guard of the soldiery.</p> + +<p>They seemed to come to a pause. Indians and half-breeds threw down their +packs. Some sat on them and gesticulated fiercely, as if on the verge of +a quarrel. A few, who seemed the leaders, went about ordering, pointing +to places where a few stakes had been driven. Great bundles were +unpacked, a centre pole reared, and a tent was in progress.</p> + +<p>"Why, it is like a magic play," and she clapped her hands in eager +delight. "Will they live here? Oh, where is Laurent, I wonder. He ought +to see this."</p> + +<p>"They will live here a month or so. Some of the earlier ones will go +away, new ones come. The company's furs will be packed and loaded on +vessels for France, but there are plenty of others who trade on their +own account. There will be roistering and drinking and quarrelling and +dickering, and then the tents will be folded and packed and the throng +take up their march for the great north again, and months of hunting."</p> + +<p>It was fascinating to watch them. They were building stone fireplaces +outside and kindling fires. Here some deft hands were skinning a moose +or a deer and placing portions on a rude spit. And there was the Sieur +de Champlain and a dozen or so of armed soldiers, he holding parley with +some of the leaders.</p> + +<p>"Oh, there is M. Giffard," she cried presently. "And look—are +there—women?"</p> + +<p>"Squaws. Oh, yes."</p> + +<p>"Do they travel, I mean come from the fur country? What a long journey +it must be for them."</p> + +<p>"They do not mind. They are nomads of the wilderness. You know the +Indians never build towns as we do. Some of them settle for months until +the hunting gives out, then they are off on a new trail."</p> + +<p>"What queer people. One would think the good missionaries would civilize +them, teach them to be like—can they civilize them?"</p> + +<p>"After centuries, perhaps"—dryly.</p> + +<p>"Is all this country theirs?"</p> + +<p>"Well"—he lifted his eyebrows in a queer, humorous fashion. "The King +of France thinks he has a right to what his explorers discover; the King +of England—well, it was Queen Elizabeth, I believe, who laid claim to a +portion called Virginia. She died, but the English remain. Their colony +is largely recruited from their prisons, I have heard. Then his Spanish +majesty has somewhat. It is a great land. But the French set out to save +souls and convert the heathen savages into Christian men. They have made +friends with some of the tribes. But they are not like the people of +Europe, rather they resemble the barbarians of the north. And the +Church, you know, has labored to convert them."</p> + +<p>"How much men know!" she said, with a long sigh of admiration.</p> + +<p>The sun was dropping down behind the distant mountains, pine- and +fir-clad. She had never looked upon so grand a scene and was filled with +a tremulous sort of awe. Up there the St. Charles river, here the +majestic St. Lawrence, islands, coves, green points running out in the +water where the reedy grass waved to and fro, tangles of vines and wild +flowers. And here at their feet the settlement that had just sprung into +existence.</p> + +<p>"You must be fatigued," he said suddenly. "Pardon my forgetfulness. I +have been so interested myself."</p> + +<p>"Yes, I am a little tired. It has been such a strange afternoon. And +that poor little girl, Monsieur—does that woman care well for her? She +has the coarseness of a peasant, and the child not being her own——"</p> + +<p>"Oh, I think she is fairly good to her. We do not expect all the graces +here in the wilderness. But I could wish——"</p> + +<p>Madame Gifford stumbled at that moment and might have gone over a ledge +of rock, and there were many there, but he caught her in strong arms.</p> + +<p>"How clumsy!" she cried. "No, I am not hurt, thanks to you. I was +looking over at that woman with something on her back that resembles a +child."</p> + +<p>"Yes, a papoose. That is their way of carrying them."</p> + +<p>"Poor mother! She must get very weary."</p> + +<p>They threaded their way carefully to the citadel. The guard nodded and +they passed. An Indian woman was bringing in a basket of vegetables and +there was a savory smell of roasting meat.</p> + +<p>"Now you are safe," he said. "The Sieur would have transported me to +France or hung me on the ramparts if any evil had happened to you."</p> + +<p>He gave a short laugh as if he had escaped a danger, but there was a +gleam of mirth in his eyes.</p> + +<p>"A thousand thanks, M'sieu. Though I can't think I was in any great +danger. And another thousand for the sweet little girl. I must see a +good deal of her."</p> + +<p>The room she entered was within the double fortification and its windows +were securely barred. The walls were of heavy timbers stained just +enough to bring out the beautiful grain. But some of the dressed +deerskins were still hanging and there were festoons of wampum, +curiously made bead and shell curtains interspersed with gun racks, +great moose horns and deer heads, and antlers. Tables and chairs +curiously made and a great couch big enough for a bed.</p> + +<p>But the adjoining room was the real workroom of the Sieur. Here were his +books, he brought a few more every time he came from France; shelves of +curiosities, a wide stone fireplace, with sundry pipes of Indian make on +the ledges. A great table occupied the centre of the room and all about +it were strewn papers,—maps in every state,—plans for the city, plans +of fortifications, diagrams of the unsuccessful settlements, and the new +project of Mont Réal. Notes on agriculture and the propagation of +fruits, for none better than the Sieur understood that the colony must +in some way provide its own food, that it could not depend upon +sustenance from the mother country. For his ambition desired to make New +France the envy of the nations who had tried colonizing. He ordered +crops of wheat and rye and barley sown, and often worked in his own +field when the moon shone with such glory that it inspired him. And +though he had all the ardor of an explorer, he meant to turn the profits +of trade to this end, but to further it settlements were necessary, and +he bent much of his energy to the duller and more trying task of +building colonies. Though the route to the Indies fired his ambition he +was in real earnest to bring this vast multitude of heathens within the +pale of the Church, and to do that he must be friendly with them as far +as they could be trusted, but there were times when he almost lost +faith.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_III" id="CHAPTER_III"></a>CHAPTER III</h2> + +<h3>SUMMER TIME</h3> + + +<p>The child sat in a dream on a rude, squarely-built settle with a coarse +blanket on it of Indian make and some skins thrown over the back, for +often at sundown the air grew cool and as yet women were not spinning or +weaving as in old France. A few luxuries had been brought thither, but +the mother government had a feeling that the colonists ought mostly to +provide for themselves, and was often indifferent to the necessary +demands.</p> + +<p>Mère Dubray went out to the kitchen and began to prepare supper. There +was a great stone chimney with a bench at each side, and for a fireplace +two flat stones that would be filled in with chunks of wood. When the +blaze had burned them to coals the cooking began. Corn bread baked on +both sides, sometimes rye or wheaten cakes, a kettle boiled, though the +home-brewed beer was the common drink in summer, except among those who +used the stronger potions. The teas were mostly fragrant herbs, thought +to be good for the stomach and to keep the blood pure.</p> + +<p>Mère Dubray dressed half a dozen birds in a trice. It was true that in +the summer they could live on the luxuries of the land in some +respects. Fish and game of all kinds were abundant, and as there were +but few ways of keeping against winter it was as well to feast while one +could. They dried and smoked eels and some other fish, and salted them, +but they had learned that too much of this diet induced scurvy.</p> + +<p>The birds were hung on an improvised spit, with a pan below to catch the +drippings with which they were basted. Between whiles the worthy woman +unexpectedly bolted out to the garden with a switch in her hand and laid +it about the two Indian boys, who did not bear it with the stoicism of +their race, as they learned the greater the noise the shorter their +punishment.</p> + +<p>The little girl did not heed the screams or the shrill scolding, or even +the singing of the birds that grew deliciously tender toward nightfall. +She often watched the waving branches as the wind blew among them until +it seemed as if they must be alive, bending over caressing each other +and murmuring in low tones. If she could only know what they said. Of +course they must be alive; she heard them cry piteously in winter when +they were stripped of their covering. Why did God do it? Why did He send +winter when summer was so much better, when people were merry and happy +and could hunt and fish and wander in the woods and fight Indians? She +had not had much of an idea of God hitherto only as a secret charm +connected with Mère Dubray's beads, but now it was some great power +living beyond the sky, just as the Indians believed. You could only go +there by growing cold and stiff and being put in the ground. She shrank +from that thought.</p> + +<p>Something new had come in her life now. There was a vague, confused idea +of gods and goddesses, that she had gathered from the Latin verses that +she no more understood than the language. And this must be one that +descended upon her this afternoon. The soft, sweet voice still lingered +in her ears, entrancing her. The graceful figure that was like some +delicate swaying branch, the attire the like of which she had never even +dreamed of. How could she indeed, when the finest things she had seen +were the soldiers' trappings?</p> + +<p>And this beautiful being had kissed her. Only once she remembered being +kissed, but Catherine's lips were so cold that for days when she thought +of it she shuddered and connected it with that mysterious going away, +that horrid, underground life. This was warm and sweet and strange, like +the nectar of flowers she had held to her lips. Oh, would the lovely +being come again? But M'sieu Ralph had said so, and what he promised +came to pass. There was a sudden ecstasy as if she could not wait, as if +she could fly out of the body after her charmer. Whither was she going? +Oh, M'sieu Ralph would know. But could she wait until to-morrow?</p> + +<p>Into this half-delirious vision broke the strong, rather harsh voice +that filled her for an instant with a curious hate so acute that if she +had been large enough, strong enough, she would have thrust the woman +out of doors.</p> + +<p>"Oh, have you been asleep? Your eyes look wild. And your cheeks! Is it +the fever coming back again? That chatter went through my head. And to +be gowned as if she were going to have audience with the Queen! I don't +know about such things. There is a King always—I suppose there must be +a Queen."</p> + +<p>The child had recovered herself a little and the enraptured dream was +slipping by.</p> + +<p>"And here is your supper. Such a great dish of raspberries, and some +juice pressed out for wine. And the birds broiled to a turn. Here is a +little wheaten cake. The Sieur sent the wheat and it is a great rarity. +And now eat like a hungry child."</p> + +<p>She raised her up and put a cushion of dried hay at her back. The food +was on a small trencher with a flat bottom, and was placed on the settle +beside her.</p> + +<p>"No, no, the tea first," she said, holding a birch-bark cup to her lips.</p> + +<p>Rose made a wry face, but drank it, nevertheless. Then she took the +raspberry juice, which was much pleasanter.</p> + +<p>"Yes, a great lady, no doubt. We have few of them. This is no place for +silken hose and dainty slippers, and gowns slipping off the shoulders, +and my lady will soon find that out. I wondered at M. Destournier. The +saints forbid that we should import these kind of cattle to New +France."</p> + +<p>"She is very sweet"—protestingly.</p> + +<p>"Oh, yes. So is the flower sweet, and it drops off into withered leaves. +And her eyes looked askance at M'sieu Ralph, yet she hath a husband. +Come, eat of thy bird and bread, and to-morrow maybe thou wilt run about +lest thy limbs stiffen up to a palsy."</p> + +<p>"Mistress, mistress," called Pani—"here is a man to see thee."</p> + +<p>She went through both rooms. The man stood without, rather rough, +unkempt, with buckskin breeches, fringed leggings, an Indian blanket, a +grizzled beard hanging down on his breast, and his tousled hair well +sprinkled with white; his face wrinkled with the hardships he had passed +through, but the gray-blue eyes twinkled.</p> + +<p>"Ha! ha!" A coarse, but not unfriendly laugh finished the greeting as he +caught both hands in an impetuous embrace. "Lalotte, old girl, has thy +memory failed in two years? Or hast thou gotten another husband?"</p> + +<p>The woman gave a shriek of mingled surprise and delight. "The saints be +praised, it is Antoine. And how if thou hast taken some Indian woman to +wife? Braves do not consort with white women who cannot be made into +slaves," she answered, with spirit.</p> + +<p>"Lalotte, thou wert hard to win in those early days. But now a dozen +good kisses with more flavor in them than Burgundy wine, and I will +prove to you I am the same old Antoine. And then—but thy supper smell +is good to a hungry man. And a dish of shallots. It takes a man back to +old Barbizon."</p> + +<p>Stout and strong as was Madame Dubray, her husband almost kissed the +breath out of her body in his rapturous embrace.</p> + +<p>"But I had no word of your coming——"</p> + +<p>"How could you, pardieu! But you knew the traders were coming in. And a +man can't send messengers hundreds of miles."</p> + +<p>"I looked last year——"</p> + +<p>"Pouf! There are men who stay five or ten years, and have left a wife in +France. You can't blame them for taking a new one when you are invited +to. It is a wild, hard life, but not worse than a soldier's. And when +you are your own master the hardships are light. But some of this good +supper."</p> + +<p>"Out with you," she said to the Indian boys, who had snatched a piece of +the broiled fish. Then she put down a plate, took up two birds that +dripped delicious gravy, and a squirrel browned to a turn. From the +cupboard beside the great stone chimney, so cunningly devised that no +one would have suspected it, she brought forth a bottle of wine from the +old world, her last choice possession, that she had dreamed of saving +for Antoine, and now her dream had come true.</p> + +<p>There was much to tell on both sides, though her life had been +comparatively uneventful. He related incidents of his wilder experiences +far away from civilization that he had grown to enjoy in its perfect +freedom that often lapped over into lawlessness. And he ate until +squirrel, fish, and the cakes, both of rye and corn, had disappeared. +The slave boys fared ill that night.</p> + +<p>Rose had eaten her supper more daintily. The great pile of raspberries +was a delight; large, luscious; melting in one's mouth without the aid +of sugar, and being picked up with the fingers. She had been startled at +the sudden appearance of the husband she had heard talked of, but of +course not seen. His loud voice grated on her ears, made more sensitive +by illness, and when, a long while after, the pine torch that was +flaring in the kitchen defined his brawny frame as he stood in the +doorway, she wanted to scream.</p> + +<p>"Oh—what have you here—a ghost?" he asked.</p> + +<p>"A child who was left here more than a year ago. Jean Arlac lost his +wife, and not knowing what to do with her—she was not his own +child—left her here. He went out with the fur-hunters."</p> + +<p>"Jean Arlac!" Antoine scratched among his rough locks as if to assist +his memory. "Yes. And on the way he picked up a likely Indian girl who +has given him a son. And he saddled her on you?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, the Sieur will look after her—perhaps take her back to France," +she answered, indifferently.</p> + +<p>"The best place for her, no doubt. She looks a frail reed. And women +need strength in this new world. A little infusion of Indian blood will +do no harm. I wouldn't mind a son myself, but a girl—pouf!"</p> + +<p>The child was glad he would not want her. She turned her face to the +wall. She had not known what loneliness was before, but now she felt it +through all her body, like a great pain.</p> + +<p>On the opposite side of the room was another settle, part of which +turned over and was upheld by drawing out two rounds of logs. Mère +Dubray made up the wider bed now, and soon Antoine was snoring lustily. +At first it frightened the child, though she was used to the screech of +the owl that spent his nights in the great walnut tree inside the +palisade.</p> + +<p>Was it a dream, she wondered the next morning. She slept soundly at last +and late and found herself alone in the house. She put on her simple +frock and went to the doorway. Ah, what a splendid glowing morning it +was! The sunshine lay in golden masses and fairly gilded the green of +the maize, the waving grasses, the bronze of the trees, and the river +threw up lights and shadows like birds skimming about.</p> + +<p>No one was in the garden. The table had been despoiled to the last +crumb. Even the cupboard had been ransacked and all that remained was +some raw fish. She was not hungry and the fragrant air was reviving. It +seemed to speed through every pulse. Why, she suddenly felt strong +again.</p> + +<p>She wandered out of the enclosure and climbed the steps, sitting down +now and then and drawing curious breaths that frightened her, they came +so irregularly. There were workmen building additional fortifications +around the post, there were houses going up. It was like a strange +place. She reached the gallery presently and looked over what was +sometime to be the city of Quebec. The long stretch was full of tents +and tepees and throngs of men of every description, it would seem; +Indians, swarthy Spaniards who had roamed half round the world, French +from the jaunty trader, with a certain air of breeding, down to the +rough, unkempt peasant, who had been lured away from his native land +with visions of an easily-made fortune and much liberty in New France, +and convicts who had been given a choice between death and expatriation. +Great stacks of furs still coming in from some quarter, haranguing, +bargaining, shouting, coming to blows, and the interference of soldiers. +Was it so last summer when she sometimes ran out with Pani, though she +had been forbidden to?</p> + +<p>It was growing very hot up here. The sun that looked so glorious through +the long stretches of the forest and played about the St. Lawrence as if +in a game of hide-and-seek with the boats, grew merciless. All the air +was full of dancing stars and she was so tired trying to reach out to +them, as if they were a stairway leading up to heaven, so that one need +not be put in the dark, wretched ground. Oh, yes, she could find the +way, and she half rose.</p> + +<p>It seemed a long journey in the darkness. Then there was a coolness on +her brow, a soft hand passed over it, and she heard some murmuring, +caressing words. She opened her eyes, she tried to rise.</p> + +<p>"Lie still, little one," said the voice that soothed and somehow made it +easy to obey. She was fanned slowly, and all was peace.</p> + +<p>"Did you climb up to the gallery all alone? And yesterday you seemed so +weak, so fragile."</p> + +<p>"I wanted—some one. They had all gone——"</p> + +<p>"Quebec looks like a besieged camp. Laurent, that is my husband," with a +bright color, "said I could see it from the gallery, and that it +resembled a great show. I went out and found you. At first I thought you +were dead. But the Indian woman, Jolette is her Christian name, but I +should have liked Wanamee better, carried you in here and after a while +brought you to. But I thought sure you were dead. Poor little white +Rose! Truly named."</p> + +<p>"But once I had red cheeks," in a faint voice.</p> + +<p>"Then thou wouldst have been a red Rose."</p> + +<p>She sang a delicious little chanson to a red rose from a lover. The +child sighed in great content.</p> + +<p>"Were they good to you down there? That woman seemed—well, hard. And +were you left all alone?"</p> + +<p>Rose began to tell the story of how the husband came home, and Madame +Giffard could see that she shrank from him. "And when she woke they had +all gone away. There was nothing to eat."</p> + +<p>"Merci! How careless and unkind!" But Madame Giffard could not know the +little slave boys had ransacked the place.</p> + +<p>"I was not hungry. And it was so delightful to walk about again. Though +I trembled all over and thought I should fall down."</p> + +<p>"As you did. Now I have ordered you some good broth. And you must lie +still to get rested."</p> + +<p>"But it is so nice to talk. You were so beautiful yesterday I was +afraid. I never saw such fine clothes."</p> + +<p>Madame Giffard was in a soft gray gown to-day that had long wrinkled +sleeves, a very short waist, and a square neck filled in with ruffles +that stood up in a stiff fashion. She looked very quaint and pretty, +more approachable, though the child felt rather than understood.</p> + +<p>"Are there no women here, and no society? Merci! but it is a strange +place, a wilderness. And no balls or dinners or excursions, with gay +little luncheons? There is war all the time at home, but plenty of +pleasure, too. And what is one to do here!"</p> + +<p>"The Indians have some ball games. But they often fight at the end."</p> + +<p>The lady laughed. What a charming ripple it was, like the falls here and +there, and there were many of them.</p> + +<p>"Not that kind," she said, in her soft tone that could not wound the +child. "A great room like a palace, and lights everywhere, hundreds of +candles, and mirrors where you see yourself at every turn. Then festoons +of gauzy things that wave about, and flowers—not always real ones, they +fade so soon. And the men—there are officers and counts and marquises, +and their habiliments are—well, I can't describe them so you would +understand, but a hundred times finer than those of the Sieur de +Champlain. And the women—oh, if I had worn a ball dress yesterday, you +would have been speechless."</p> + +<p>She laughed again gayly at the child's innocence. And just then Wanamee +came in with the broth.</p> + +<p>"Madame Dubray's husband has come," nodding to the child.</p> + +<p>"Yes, yesterday, just at night."</p> + +<p>"He has great stores, they say. He is shrewd and means to make money. +But there will be no quiet now for weeks. And it will hardly be safe to +venture outside the palisades."</p> + +<p>Jolette had been among the first converts, a prisoner taken in one of +the numerous Indian battles, rescued and saved from torture by the Sieur +himself, and though she had been a wife of one of the chiefs, she had +been beaten and treated like a slave. Champlain found her amenable to +the influences of civilization, and in some respects really superior to +the emigrants that had been sent over, though most of them were eagerly +seized upon as wives for the workmen. Frenchwomen were not anxious to +leave their native land.</p> + +<p>Madame Giffard fed her small <i>protégée</i> in a most dainty and enticing +manner. The little girl would have thought herself in an enchanted +country if she had known anything about enchantment. But most of the +stories she had heard were of Indian superstition, and so horrid she +never wanted to recur to them. Madame Dubray was much too busy to allow +her thoughts to run in fanciful channels, and really lacked any sort of +imagination.</p> + +<p>After she had been fed she leaned back on the pillow again. Madame soon +sang her to sleep. The child was very much exhausted and in the quietude +of slumber looked like a bit of carving.</p> + +<p>"Her eyelashes are splendid," thought her watcher, "and her lips have +pretty curves. There is something about her—she must have belonged to +gentle people. But she will grow coarse under that woman's training."</p> + +<p>She sighed a little. Did she want the child, she wondered. If Laurent +could make a fortune here in this curious land where most of the +population seemed barbarians.</p> + +<p>She drew from a work-bag a purse she was knitting of silken thread, and +worked as she watched the sleeping child. Once she rose, but the view +from the window did not satisfy her, so she went out on the gallery. A +French vessel was coming up into port, with its colors at half mast and +its golden lilies shrouded with crape. Some important personage must be +dead—was it the King?</p> + +<p>She heard her husband's voice calling her and turned, took a few steps +forward. "Oh, what has happened?" she cried.</p> + +<p>"The King! Our heroic Béarnese! For though we must always regret his +change of religion, yet it was best for France and his rights. And a +wretched miscreant stabbed him in his carriage, but he has paid the +penalty. And the new King is but a child, so a woman will rule. There is +no knowing what policies may be overturned."</p> + +<p>"Our brave King!" There were tears in her eyes.</p> + +<p>"They are loading vessels to return. Ah, what a rich country, even if +they cannot find the gold the Spaniards covet. Such an array of choice +furs bewilders one, and to see them tossed about carelessly makes one +almost scream with rage. Ah, my lady, you shall have in the winter what +the Queen Mother would envy."</p> + +<p>"Then you mean to stay"—uncertainly.</p> + +<p>"Yes, unless there should be great changes. I have not seen the Sieur +since the news came. He was to go to Tadoussac the first of the week, +and I had permission to go with him. One would think to-day that Quebec +was one of the most flourishing of towns, and it is hard to believe the +contrary. But every soldier is on the watch. They trust no one. What +have you been doing, <i>ma mie</i>?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, I have something to show you. Come."</p> + +<p>She placed her finger to her lips in token of silence and led him back +to the room she had left. The child was still sleep.</p> + +<p>"What an angel," he murmured. "Is it—how did it come here? I thought +you said the little girl was ill."</p> + +<p>"She was, and is. Doesn't she look like a marvellous statue? But no one +seems to regard her beauty here."</p> + +<p>"She is too delicate."</p> + +<p>"But she was well and strong and daring, and could climb like a deer, M. +Destournier says. She will be well again with good care. I want to keep +her."</p> + +<p>"She will be a good plaything for thee when I am away. Though this may +change many plans. The Sieur is bent on discoveries, and now he has +orders to print his book. The maps are wonderful. What a man! He should +be a king in this new world. France does not understand the mighty +empire he is founding for her."</p> + +<p>"Then you do not mind—if I keep the child? She has crept into the empty +niche in my heart. I must have been directed by the saints when I felt +the desire to go out. She would have died from exhaustion in the +broiling sun."</p> + +<p>"Say the good Father, rather."</p> + +<p>"And yet we must adore the saints, the old patriarchs. Did not the +disciples desire to build a memento to them?"</p> + +<p>"They were not such men as have disgraced the holy calling by fire and +sword and persecution. And if one can draw a free breath in this new +land. The English with all their faults allow freedom in religion. It is +these hated Jesuits. And I believe they are answerable for the murder of +our heroic King."</p> + +<p>Wanamee summoned them to the midday repast. The plain walnut boards +that formed the table had been polished until the beautiful grain and +the many curvings were brought out like the shades of a painting. If the +dishes were a motley array, a few pieces of silver and polished pewter +with common earthenware and curious cups of carved wood as well as +birch-bark platters, the viands were certainly appetizing.</p> + +<p>"One will not starve in this new country," he said.</p> + +<p>"But it is the winter that tries one, M. Destournier says."</p> + +<p>"There must be plenty of game. And France sends many things. But a +colony must have agricultural resources. And the Indian raids are so +destructive. We need more soldiers."</p> + +<p>He was off again to plunge in the thick of business. It was supposed the +fur company and the concessions ruled most of the bargain-making, but +there were independent trappers who had not infrequently secured skins +that were well-nigh priceless when they reached the hands of the Paris +furrier. And toward night, when wine and whiskey had been passed around +rather freely, there were broils that led to more than one fatal ending. +Indian women thronged around as well, with curious handiwork made in +their forest fastnesses.</p> + +<p>The child slept a long while, she was so exhausted.</p> + +<p>"Why, the sun is going over the mountains," she began, in vague alarm. +"I must go home. I did not mean to run away."</p> + +<p>She sprang up on her feet, but swayed so that she would have fallen had +not Madame caught her.</p> + +<p>"Nay, nay, thou art not well enough to run away from me, little one. I +will send word down to the cabin of Mère Dubray. She has her husband, +whom she has not seen for two years, and will care naught for thee. +Women are all alike when a man's love is proffered," and she gave a gay +little laugh.</p> + +<p>"My head feels light and swims around as if it was on the rapid river. +But I must go home, I——"</p> + +<p>"Art afraid? Well, I promise nothing shall harm thee. Lie down again. I +will send Wanamee with the word. Will it make thee happy—content?"</p> + +<p>The child looked at her hostess as if she was studying her, but her +intellect had never been roused sufficiently for that. There was a vague +delight stealing over her as slumber does at times, a confusion of what +might have been duty if she had understood that even, in staying away +from what was really her home. Mère Dubray would be angry. She would +hardly beat her, she had only slapped her once during her illness, and +that was to make her swallow some bitter tea. And something within her +seemed to cry out for the adjuncts of this place. She had been in the +room before, she had even peered into the Sieur's study. He always had a +kindly word for her, she was different from the children of the workmen, +and looked at one with sober, wondering eyes, as if she might fathom +many things.</p> + +<p>"You do not want to go back?"—persuasively.</p> + +<p>Was it the pretty lady who changed the aspect of everything for her?</p> + +<p>"Oh, if I could stay here always!" she cried, with a vehemence of more +years than had passed over her head. "It is better than the beautiful +world where I sit on the rocks and wonder, and dream of the great beyond +that goes over and meets the sky. There are no cruel Indians then, and I +want to wander on and on and listen to the voices in the trees, the +plash of the great river, and the little stream that plays against the +stones almost like the song you sung. If one could live there always and +did not get hungry or cold——"</p> + +<p>"What a queer, visionary child! One would not look for it in these +wilds. The ladies over yonder talk of them because it is a fashion, but +when they ride through the parks and woods they want a train of +admirers. And with you it is pure love. Could you love any one as you do +nature? Was any one ever so good to you that you could fall down at +their feet and worship them? Surely you do not love Madame Dubray?"</p> + +<p>"M'sieu Ralph has been very kind. But you are like a wonderful flower +one finds now and then, and dares not gather it lest the gods of the +woods and trees should be angry."</p> + +<p>"But I will gather you to my heart, little one," and she slipped down +beside the couch, encircling the child in her arms, and pressing kisses +on brow and legs and pallid cheeks, bringing a roseate tint to them.</p> + +<p>"And you must love me, you must want to stay with me. Oh, there was a +little one once who was flesh of my flesh, on whom I lavished the +delight and tenderness of my soul, and the great Father took her. He +sent nothing in her place, though I prayed and prayed. And now I shall +put you there. Surely the good God cannot be angry, for you have no +one."</p> + +<p>She had followed a sudden impulse, and was not quite sure it was for the +best. Only her mother heart cried out for love.</p> + +<p>The child stared, motionless, and it dampened her ardor for the moment. +She could not fathom the eyes.</p> + +<p>"Are you not glad? Would you not like to live with me?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, oh!" It was a cry of rapture. She caught the soft white hands and +kissed them. The joy was so new, so unexpected, she had no words for +it.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_IV" id="CHAPTER_IV"></a>CHAPTER IV</h2> + +<h3>A HUSBAND</h3> + + +<p>Lalotte Dubray had had the gala day of her life. Her peasant wedding had +been simple enough. The curé's blessing after the civil ceremony, the +dance on the green, the going home to the one room in the small thatched +hut, the bunk-like bed along the wall, the two chests that answered for +seats, a kitchen table, two shelves for a rude dresser, with dishes that +had been earned by the hardest toil, but they were better off than some, +for there was a pig grunting and squealing outside, and a little garden.</p> + +<p>Times had grown harder and harder. Antoine had been compelled to join +the army and fight for he knew not what. Then he had decamped, and +instead of being shot had been sent to New France. Lalotte was willing +enough to go with him.</p> + +<p>Hard as it was, it bettered their fortunes. He had gone out once as a +sort of servant and handy man to the company. Then he had struck out for +himself. He was shrewd and industrious, and did not mind hard work, nor +hardships.</p> + +<p>Now he was in the lightest of spirits. He had some choice furs that were +eagerly snapped up. The Indian women had been shrewd enough to arrange +tempting booths, where frying fish and roasted birds gave forth an +appetizing fragrance. There were cakes of ground maize baked on hot +stones, and though Champlain had used his best efforts to keep some +restraint on spirituous liquors, there were many ways of evading.</p> + +<p>Lalotte was fairly stupefied with amazement at her husband's prosperity.</p> + +<p>"Why, you are rich with that bag of money," she cried. "I never saw so +much."</p> + +<p>He laughed jovially. "Better than standing up to be shot—he! he! +Jacques Lallemont had the idea, and they wanted emigrants for New France +bad enough. Why don't they send more? The English understand better. +<i>Sacré!</i> But it is a great country. Only Quebec stays little, when it +should be a great place. Why can they not see?"</p> + +<p>Lalotte could venture no explanation of that. She seemed to be in a maze +herself.</p> + +<p>Vessels were taking on cargoes of furs as soon as they were inspected. +The river as far as Tadoussac looked thriving enough. Antoine met old +friends, but he was more level-headed than some, and did not get tipsy. +Lalotte held her head higher than ever.</p> + +<p>When it was getting rather too rough they made their way out.</p> + +<p>"Oh, the child!" she exclaimed, with a sudden twinge of conscience. "And +those wretched slave boys. If your back is turned they are in league +with the evil one himself. Baptism does not seem to drive it out. +Whether the poor thing had her breakfast."</p> + +<p>"Let that alone. It was mighty cool in Jean Arlac to foist her on thee. +And now that we have left the crowd behind and are comfortable in the +stomach."</p> + +<p>"But the cost, Antoine. I could have gotten it for half!"</p> + +<p>"A man may treat his wife, when he has not seen her for two years," and +he gave a short chuckling laugh. "There has been a plan in my head, +hatched in the long winter nights up at the bay. Why should man and wife +be living apart when they might be together? Thou hast a hot temper, +Lalotte, but it will serve to warm up the biting air."</p> + +<p>"A hot temper!" resentfully. "Much of it you have taken truly! Two years +soldiering—months in prison, and now two years again——"</p> + +<p>He laughed good-humoredly, if it was loud enough to wake echoes.</p> + +<p>"The saints know how I have wished for the sound of your voice. Indian +women there are ready enough to be a wife for six months, and then +perhaps some brave steals in at night and pouf! out goes your candle."</p> + +<p>"The sin of it!"—holding up both hands.</p> + +<p>"Sins are not counted in this wild land. But there are no old memories, +no talks with each other. Oh, you cannot think how the loneliness almost +freezes up one's very vitals. And I said to myself—I will bring +Lalotte back with me. Why should we not share the same life and live +over together our memories of sunny France?—not always sunny, either."</p> + +<p>"To—take me with you"—gasping.</p> + +<p>"Yes, why not? As if a man cannot order his wife about!" he exclaimed +jocosely, catching her around the waist and imprinting half a dozen +kisses with smacks that were like an explosion. "Yes—I have sighed for +thee many a night. There are high logs for firing, there are piles of +bearskins, thick and fleecy as those of our best sheep at home. There is +enough to eat at most times, and with thy cookery, <i>ma mie</i>, a man would +feast. It is a rough journey, to be sure, but then thou wilt not refuse, +or I shall think thou hast a secret lover."</p> + +<p>"The Virgin herself knows I shall be glad to go with thee, Antoine," and +the tears of joy stood in her eyes. "There is nothing in all Quebec to +compare with thee. And heaven knows one sometimes grows hungry of a +winter night, when food is scarce and one depends upon sleep to make it +up. No, I should be happy anywhere with thee."</p> + +<p>They jogged along in a lover-like fashion, but they were not quite out +of hearing of the din. At nightfall all dickering was stopped and guards +placed about. But in many a tent there were drinking and gambling, and +more than one affray.</p> + +<p>They came to the small unpretentious cabin. The door stood wide open, +and the shaggy old dog was stretched on the doorstep, dozing. No soul +was to be seen.</p> + +<p>"Where is the child, Britta? Why, she must have been carried off. She +could not walk any distance."</p> + +<p>The dog gave a wise look and flicked her ear. Lalotte searched every +nook.</p> + +<p>"Where could she have gone?" in dismay.</p> + +<p>"Let the child alone. What is she to us? Does Jean Arlac stay awake +nights with trouble in his conscience about her? She was not his wife's +child and so nothing to him. What more is she to us? Come, get some +supper; I've not tasted such fried fish in an age as yours last night."</p> + +<p>"The fish about here has a fine flavor, that is true. Those imps of +boys, and not a stick of wood handy. Their skins shall be well warmed; +just wait until I get at them."</p> + +<p>"Nay, I will get some wood. I am hungry as a bear in the thaw, when he +crawls out."</p> + +<p>But Lalotte, armed with a switch, began a survey of the garden. The work +had been neglected, that was plain. There under a clump of bushes lay +Pani, sleeping, with no fear of retribution on his placid face. And +Lalotte put in some satisfactory work before he even stirred.</p> + +<p>But he knew nothing of his compeer, only they had been down to the river +together. As for the child, when he returned she was gone.</p> + +<p>"Let the child alone, I say!" and Antoine brought his fist heavily down +on the table. "Next thing you will be begging that we take her. Since +the good Lord in His mercy has refrained from giving us any mouths to +feed, we will not fly in His face for those who do not concern us. And +the puling thing would die on the journey and have to be left behind to +feed the wolves. Come! come! Attend to thy supper."</p> + +<p>The slim Indian convert was coming up the path. She was one of the +Abenaqui tribe, and she had mostly discarded the picturesque attire.</p> + +<p>"The lady Madame Giffard sent me to say the girl is safe with her and +will not be able to return to-night."</p> + +<p>"So much the better," growled Antoine, looking with hungry eyes on the +fish browning before the coals.</p> + +<p>"Did she come and take her? I went with my husband to see the traders."</p> + +<p>"She has been very poorly, but is much better now. And miladi +thought——"</p> + +<p>"Oh, yes, it is all right. Yes, I am glad," nodding definitely, as if +the matter was settled. She did not want to quarrel with Antoine about a +child that was no kin to them, when he was so much like her old lover. +He seemed to bring back the hopes of youth and a certain gayety to which +she had long been a stranger.</p> + +<p>After enjoying his meal he brought out his pipe and stretched himself in +a comfortable position, begging her to attend to him and let the slave +boy take the fragments. He went on to describe the settlement of the +fur merchants and trappers at Hudson Bay, but toned down much of the +rudeness of the actual living. A few of the white women, wives of the +leaders and the men in command, formed a little community. There was +card-playing and the relating of adventures through the long winter +evenings, that sometimes began soon after three. Dances, too, Indian +entertainments, and for daylight, flying about on snowshoes, and +skating. There was a short summer. The Indian women were expert in +modelling garments—everything was of fur and dressed deerskins.</p> + +<p>Few knew how to read at that day among the seekers of fortune and +adventurers, but they were shrewd at keeping accounts, nevertheless. +There were certain regulations skilfully evaded by the knowing ones.</p> + +<p>No, it would never do to take the child. She had no real mother love for +it, yet she often wondered whose child it might be, since it was not +Catherine Arlac's? Strange stories about foundlings often came to light +in old France.</p> + +<p>The death of the King rather disorganized matters, for no one quite knew +what the new order of things would be. The Sieur de Champlain sorrowed +truly, for he had ever been a staunch admirer of Henry of Navarre. +Demont had not had his concession renewed and to an extent the fur trade +had been thrown open. Several vessels were eagerly competing for stores +of Indian peltries, as against those of the company. Indeed it was a +regular carnival time. One would think old Quebec a most prosperous +settlement, if judged only by that. But none of the motley crew were +allowed inside the palisades. The Sieur controlled the rough community +with rare good judgment. He had shown that he could punish as well as +govern; fight, if need be, and then be generous to the foe. Indeed in +the two Indian battles he had won much prestige, and had frowned on the +torture of helpless prisoners.</p> + +<p>Madame Giffard besought her husband that evening to consent to her +taking the care of little Rose, at least while they remained in Canada, +the year and perhaps more.</p> + +<p>"And that may unfit her for her after life. You will make a pet and +plaything of her, and then it would be cruel to return her to this woman +to whom it seems she was given. She may be claimed some day."</p> + +<p>"And if we liked her, might we not take her home with us? There seems no +doubt but what she came from France. Not that I could put any one quite +in the place of my lost darling, but it will afford me much interest +through the winter, which, by all accounts, is dreary. I can teach her +to read—she hardly knows a French letter. M. Destournier has taken a +great interest in her. And she needs care now, encouragement to get +well."</p> + +<p>"Let us do nothing rash. The Sieur may be able to advise what is best," +he returned gently. He felt he would rather know more of the case before +he took the responsibility.</p> + +<p>"She is so sweet, so innocent. She did not really know what love was," +and Madame laughed softly. "This Catherine Arlac must have been a maid, +I think. Yes, I am sure she must have come from gentle people. She has +every indication of it."</p> + +<p>"Well, thou canst play nurse a while and it will interest thee, and fill +up thy lonely hours, for I have much to do and must take some journeys +quite impossible for a woman. And then we will decide, if this woman is +ready to part with her. <i>Ma mie</i>, thou knowest I would not refuse thee +any wish that was possible."</p> + +<p>"That is true, Laurent," and she kissed him fondly.</p> + +<p>Destournier had been busy every moment of the day and had been closeted +with the Sieur until late in the evening. Champlain felt now that he +must give up an exploring expedition, on which his heart was set, and +return to France, where large interests of the colony were at stake. +There was much to be arranged.</p> + +<p>So it was not until the next morning that he found his way to the Dubray +house, and then he was surprised at the tidings. Lalotte was almost a +girl again in her interest in the new plans. As soon as a sufficient +number had sold their wares to make a journey safe from marauders they +would start for Hudson's Bay, while the weather was pleasant. Of course +the child must be left behind. She had no real claim on them; neither +could she stand the journey. She was now with Madame Giffard.</p> + +<p>Thither he hurried. Little Rose had improved wonderfully, though she was +almost transparently thin, and her eyes seemed larger and softer in +their mysterious darkness. Already love had done much for her.</p> + +<p>He told his story and the plans of the Dubrays.</p> + +<p>"Then I can stay here," she cried with kindling eyes, reaching out her +small hand as if to sign her right in Madame's.</p> + +<p>Madame's eyes, too, were joyous as she raised them in a sort of +gratitude to her visitor.</p> + +<p>"How strange it comes about," she cried. "And now, M. Destournier, will +you learn all you can about this Catherine Arlac; where she came from in +France, and if she was any sort of a trustworthy person? It may some day +be of importance to the child."</p> + +<p>"Yes, anything I can do to advance her interest you may depend on. Are +you happy, little one?"</p> + +<p>"I could fly like a bird, I am so light with joy. But I would not fly +away from here. Oh, then I shall not have to go back! I was frightened +at M. Dubray."</p> + +<p>"I don't wonder. Yet these are the kind of men New France needs, who are +not afraid of the wilderness and its trials. The real civilization +follows on after the paths are trodden down. Did you go out yesterday?" +to the lady.</p> + +<p>"Only on the gallery."</p> + +<p>"That was safest. Such a crowd was fit only for Indian women, and some +of them shrank from it, I noticed. You heard the news about the King?"</p> + +<p>"The sad, sad news. Yes."</p> + +<p>"And the Sieur feels he must go back to France."</p> + +<p>"What is Quebec to do? And if there is an Indian raid? Oh, this new land +is full of fears."</p> + +<p>"And think of the strifes and battles of the old world! Ah, if peace +could reign. Yet the bravest of men are in the forefront."</p> + +<p>Then he came over to the child.</p> + +<p>"Who brought you here yesterday?" he asked, with a smile.</p> + +<p>"I was all alone. I had nothing to eat. I wanted to get out in the +sunshine. I walked, but presently I shook so, I crawled up on the +gallery. And then——"</p> + +<p>She looked wistfully at miladi, who took up the rest of the journey.</p> + +<p>"You were a brave little girl. But what if Madame had not chanced to +come out? Why, you might have died."</p> + +<p>The dark eyes grew humid. "It does not hurt to die," she said slowly. +"Only if you did not have to be put in the ground."</p> + +<p>"Don't talk of such things," interposed Madame, with a half shudder. +"You are going to get well now, and run about and show me the places you +love. And we can sail up to the islands and through the St. Charles, +that looks so fascinating and mysterious, can we not?" smiling up at +Destournier.</p> + +<p>"Oh, yes, a month will finish the trading, for the ships will want to +start with their freight, while the weather is fine. True, the Indians +and many of the <i>coureurs de bois</i> will loiter about until the last +moment. There is to be a great Indian dance, I hear. They generally +break up with one that has a good deal of savagery in it, but this early +one is quite mild, I have understood, and gives one an opportunity to +see them in their fine feathers and war paint."</p> + +<p>"Oh, it must be interesting. Would it be safe to go?" she inquired.</p> + +<p>"With a bodyguard, yes. Your husband and myself, and we might call in +the services of the Dubrays. Madame is a host in herself. And they are +glad, it seems, to shift the care of the child on some one else," +lowering his voice.</p> + +<p>"You will not forget to inquire——"</p> + +<p>"Why, there must be a record here. The Sieur has the name and addresses +of all the emigrants, I think. There have not been many shiploads of +women."</p> + +<p>"She has no indication of peasant parentage. There is a curious delicacy +about her, but <i>merci!</i> what wonderful and delightful ignorance. It is +like a fallow field. Mère Dubray seems to have sown nothing in it. Oh, I +promise myself rare pleasure in teaching her many things."</p> + +<p>"She has a quick and peculiar imagination. I am glad she has fallen into +other hands. Settling a new country is a great undertaking, especially +when one has but a handful of people and you have to uproot other habits +of life and thought. I wonder if one can civilize an Indian!" and he +laughed doubtfully.</p> + +<p>"But it is to save their souls, I thought!"</p> + +<p>"Yet some of them worship the same God that we do, only He is called the +Great Manitou. And they have an hereafter for the braves at least, a +happy hunting ground. But they are cruel and implacable enemies with +each other. And we have wars at home as well. It is a curious muddle, I +think. You come from a Huguenot family, I believe."</p> + +<p>"My mother did. But she went with my father. There were no family +dissensions. Does it make so much difference if one is upright and +honest and kindly?"</p> + +<p>"Kindly. If that could be put in the creed. 'Tis a big question," and he +gave a sigh. "At least you are proving that part of the creed," and he +crossed over to the child, chatting with her in a pleasant manner until +he left them.</p> + +<p>That evening there was a serious discussion in the Sieur's study. +Captain Chauvin was to return also, and who was most trustworthy to be +put in command of the infant colony was an important matter. There had +been quite an acreage of grain sown the year before, maize was +promising, and a variety of vegetables had been cultivated. Meats and +fish were dried and salted. They had learned how to protect themselves +from serious inroads of the scurvy. The houses in the post were being +much improved and made more secure against the rigors of the long +winter.</p> + +<p>An officer who had spent the preceding winter at the fort was put in +command, and the next day the garrison and the workmen were called in +and enjoined to render him full obedience.</p> + +<p>Destournier and Gifford were to undertake some adventures in a northerly +direction, following several designated routes that Champlain had +expected to pursue. Their journeys would not be very long.</p> + +<p>As for Rose, she improved every day and began to chatter delightfully, +while her adoration of Madame Giffard was really touching, and filled +hours that would otherwise have been very tedious.</p> + +<p>They had brought with them a few books. Madame was an expert at +embroidery and lace-making, but was aghast when she realized her slender +stock of materials, and that it would be well-nigh a year before any +could come from France.</p> + +<p>"But there is bead work, and the Indian women make threads out of +grasses," explained Wanamee. "And feathers of birds are sewed around +garments and fringes are cut. Oh, miladi will find some employment for +her fingers."</p> + +<p>Mère Dubray made no objection to accompanying them to the Indian dance. +She had been to several of them, but they were wild things that one +could not well understand; nothing like the village dances at home. "But +what would you? These were savages!"</p> + +<p>"I wish I could go, too," the child said wistfully. "But I could not +climb about nor stand up as I used. When will I be able to run around +again?"</p> + +<p>She was gaining every day and went out on the gallery for exercise. She +was a very cheerful invalid; indeed miladi was so entertaining she was +never weary when with her, and if her husband needed her, Wanamee came +to sit with the child. Rose knew many words in the language, as well as +that of the unfortunate Iroquois.</p> + +<p>All they had been able to learn about Catherine Arlac was that she had +come from Paris to Honfleur, a widow, with a little girl. And Paris was +such a great and puzzling place for a search.</p> + +<p>"But she is a sweet human rose with no thorns, and I must keep her," +declared miladi.</p> + +<p>Laurent Giffard made no demur. He was really glad for his wife to have +an interest while he was away.</p> + +<p>The party threaded their way through the narrow winding paths that were +to be so famous afterward and witness the heroic struggle, when the +lilies of France went down for the last time, and the heritage that had +cost so much in valiant endeavor and blood and treasure was signed away.</p> + +<p>There were flaming torches and swinging lanterns and throngs wending to +the part beyond the tents. The dance was not to pass a certain radius, +where guards were stationed. Already there was a central fire of logs, +around which the braves sat with their knees drawn up and their chins +resting upon them, looking as if they were asleep.</p> + +<p>"A fire this warm night," said miladi, in irony.</p> + +<p>"We could hardly see them without it," returned her husband.</p> + +<p>At the summons of a rude drum that made a startling noise, the braves +rose, threw down their blankets and displayed their holiday attire of +paint, fringes, beads, and dressed deerskins with great headdresses of +feathers. Another ring formed round them. One brave, an old man, came +forward, and gesticulating wildly, went through a series of antics. One +after another fell in, and the slow tread began to increase. Then shrill +songs, with a kind of musical rhythm, low at first, but growing louder +and louder, the two or three circles joining in, the speed increasing +until they went whirling around like madmen, shouting, thrusting at each +other with their brawny arms, until all seemed like a sudden frenzy.</p> + +<p>"Oh, they will kill each other!" almost shrieked Madame.</p> + +<p>"<i>Non, non</i>, but small loss if they did," commented Madame Dubray.</p> + +<p>They paused suddenly. It seemed like disentangling a chain. The +confusion was heightened by the cries and the dancing feather +headdresses that might have been a flock of giant birds. But presently +they resolved into a circle again, and began to march to a slow chant. +One young fellow seized a brand from the fire and began a wild gyration, +pointing the end to the circle, at random, it seemed. Then another and +another until the lights flashed about madly and there was a scent of +burning feathers. The circle stood its ground bravely, but there were +shrieks and mocking laughter as they danced around, sometimes making a +lunge out at the spectators, who would draw back in affright, a signal +for roars of mirth.</p> + +<p>"They will burn each other up," cried Madame. "Oh, let us go. The noise +is more than I can bear. And if they should attack us. Do you remember +what M. du Parc was telling us?"</p> + +<p>"I think we have had enough of it," began M. Giffard. "They are said to +be very treacherous. What is to hinder them from attacking the whites?"</p> + +<p>"The knowledge that they have not yet received any pay, and their +remaining stock would be confiscated. They are not totally devoid of +self-interest, and most of them have a respect for the fighting powers +of the Sieur and his punishing capacity, as well."</p> + +<p>As they left the place the noise seemed to subside, though it was like +the roar of wild animals.</p> + +<p>"Am I to remain here all winter with these savages? Can I not return +with M. de Champlain?" pleaded Madame Giffard.</p> + +<p>"Such a time would be almost a Godsend in the winter," declared +Destournier. "But they will be hundreds of miles away, and the near +Indians are sometimes too friendly, when driven by hunger to seek the +fort. Oh, you will find no cause for alarm, I think."</p> + +<p>"And how long will they keep this up?" she asked, as they were ascending +the parapet from which they could still see the moving mass and the +flashing lights, weird amid the surrounding darkness.</p> + +<p>"They will sit in a ring presently and smoke the pipe of peace and +enjoyment, and drop off to sleep. And for your satisfaction, not a few +among those were fur-hunters and traders, white men, who have given up +the customs of civilized life and enjoy the hardships of the wilderness, +but who will fight like tigers for their brethren when the issue comes. +They are seldom recreant to their own blood."</p> + +<p>"I do not want to see it again, ever," she cried passionately. "I shall +hardly sleep for thinking of it and some horrible things a sailor told +on shipboard. I can believe them all true now."</p> + +<p>"And we have had horrible battles, cruelty to prisoners," declared her +husband. "These poor savages have never been taught anything better, and +are always at war with each other. But for us, who have a higher state +of civilization, it seems incredible that we should take a delight in +destroying our brethren."</p> + +<p>It was quiet and peaceful enough inside the fort. The Sieur was still +engrossed with his papers, marking out routes and places where lakes and +rivers might be found and where trading posts might be profitably set, +and colonies established. It was a daring ambition to plant the lilies +of France up northward, to take in the mighty lakes they had already +discovered and to cross the continent and find the sure route to India. +There were heroes in those days and afterwards.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_V" id="CHAPTER_V"></a>CHAPTER V</h2> + +<h3>CHANGING ABOUT</h3> + + +<p>"If you are ready for your sail and have the courage——"</p> + +<p>Laurent Giffard kissed his pretty wife as she sat with some needlework +in her hand, telling legendary tales, that were half fairy +embellishments, to the little Rose, who was listening eager-eyed and +with a delicious color in her cheeks. The child lived in a sort of fairy +land. Miladi was the queen, her gowns were gold and silver brocade, but +what brocade was, it would have been difficult for her to describe. She +was very happy in these days, growing strong so she could take walks +outside the fort, though she did not venture to do much climbing. The +old life was almost forgotten. Mère Dubray was very busy with her own +affairs, and her husband was as exigent as any new lover. Her cookery +appealed to him in the most important place, his stomach.</p> + +<p>"And to think I have done without thee these two years," he would moan.</p> + +<p>When she saw her, the little girl had a strange fear that at the last +moment they would seize her and take her up to the fur country with +them. Pani was to go; he was of some service, if you kept a sharp eye +on him, and had a switch handy.</p> + +<p>"I'll tell you," he said to Rose when he waylaid her one day, "because +you never got me into trouble and had me beaten. I shall have to start +with them and I will go two days' journey, so they won't suspect. Then +at night I'll start back. I like Quebec, and you and the good gentleman +who throws you a laugh when he passes, instead of striking you. And I'll +hunt and fish, and be a sailor. I'll not starve. And you will not tell +even miladi, who is so beautiful and sweet. Promise."</p> + +<p>Rose promised. And now they were to go down the river.</p> + +<p>"The courage, of course," and Madame glanced up smilingly. "We take the +child for the present."</p> + +<p>"I shall soon be jealous, <i>ma mie</i>, but it is a pleasure to see a bright +young thing about that can talk with her eyes and not chatter shrilly. +<i>Mon dieu!</i> what voices most of the wives have, and they are +transmitting them to their children. Yes; we will start at noon, and be +gone two days. Destournier has some messages to deliver. Put on thy +plainest frock, we are not in sunny France now."</p> + +<p>She had learned that and only dressed up now and then for her husband's +sake, or to please the child. And she had made her some pretty frocks +out of petticoats quite too fine for wear here.</p> + +<p>Rose was overjoyed. Wanamee was to accompany them. When they were ready +they were piloted down to the wharf by Monsieur, and there was M. Ralph +to welcome them. The river was brisk with boats and canoes and shallops. +The sun glistened on the naked backs of Indian rowers bending with every +stroke of the paddles to a rhythmic sort of sound, that later on grew to +be regular songs. There were squaws handling canoes with grace and +dexterity. One would have considered Quebec a great <i>entrepôt</i>.</p> + +<p>But the river with its beautiful bank, its groves of trees that had not +yet been despoiled, its frowning rocks glinting in the sunshine, its +wild flowers, its swift dazzle of birds, its great flocks of geese, +snowy white, in the little coves that uttered shrill cries and then +huddled together, the islands that reared grassy heads a moment and were +submerged as the current swept over them.</p> + +<p>"Why are they not drowned?" asked Rose. "Or can they swim like the +little Indian boys?"</p> + +<p>M. Giffard laughed—he often did at her quaint questions.</p> + +<p>"They are like the trees; they have taken root ever so far down, and the +tide cannot sweep them away."</p> + +<p>"And is Quebec rooted that way? Do the rocks hold fast? And—all the +places, even France?"</p> + +<p>"They have staunch foundations. The good God has anchored them fast."</p> + +<p>A puzzled look wavered over her face. "Monsieur, it is said the great +world is round. Why does not the water spill out as it turns? It would +fall out of a pail."</p> + +<p>"Ah, child, that once puzzled wiser heads than thine. And years must +pass over thy head before thou canst understand."</p> + +<p>"When I am as big as miladi?"</p> + +<p>"I am afraid I do not quite understand myself, though I learned it in +the convent, I am quite sure. And I could not see why we did not fall +off. Some of the good nuns still believed the world was flat," and +miladi laughed. "Women's brains were not made for over-much study."</p> + +<p>"Is it far to France?"</p> + +<p>"Two months' or so sail."</p> + +<p>"On a river?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, on a great ocean. We must look at the Sieur's chart. Out of sight +of any land for days and days."</p> + +<p>"I should feel afraid. And if you did not know where the land was?"</p> + +<p>"But the sailor can tell by his chart."</p> + +<p>What a wonderful world it was. She had supposed Quebec the greatest +thing in it. And now she knew so much about France and the beautiful +city called Paris, where the King and Queen lived, and ladies who went +gowned just like Madame, the first time she saw her. And there was an +England. M. Ralph had been there and seen their island empire, which +could not compare with France. She had a vague idea France was all the +rest of the world.</p> + +<p>What days they were, for the weather was unusually fine. Now and then +they paused to explore some small isle, or to get fresh game. As for +fish, in those days the river seemed full of them. So many small streams +emptied into the St. Lawrence. Berries were abundant, and they feasted +to their hearts' content. The Indians dried them in the sun for winter +use.</p> + +<p>Tadoussac was almost as busy as Quebec. As the fur monopoly had been in +part broken up, there were trappers here with packs of furs, and several +Indian settlements. It was Champlain's idea which Giffard was to work +up, to enlist rival traders to become sharers in the traffic, and +enlarge the trade, instead of keeping in one channel.</p> + +<p>Madame and the little girl, piloted by Wanamee, visited several of the +wigwams, and the surprise of the Indian women at seeing the white lady +and the child was great indeed. Rose was rather afraid at first, and +drew back.</p> + +<p>"They take it that you are the wife of the great father in France, that +is the King," translated Wanamee, "because you have crossed the ocean. +And you must not blame their curiosity. They will do you no harm."</p> + +<p>But they wanted to examine my lady's frock and her shoes, with their +great buckles that nearly covered her small foot. Her sleeves came in +for a share of wonder, and her white, delicate arms they loaded with +curious bracelets, made of shells ground and polished until they +resembled gems. Then, too, they must feast them with a dish of Indian +cookery, which seemed ground maize broken by curiously arranged +millstones, in which were put edible roots, fish, and strips of dried +meat, that proved quite too much for miladi's delicate stomach. The +child had grown accustomed to it, as Lalotte sometimes indulged in it, +but she always shook her head in disdain and frowned on it.</p> + +<p>"Such <i>pot au feu</i> no one would eat at home," she would declare +emphatically.</p> + +<p>They were loaded with gifts when they came away. Beautifully dressed +deerskins, strips of work that were remarkable, miladi thought, and she +wondered how they could accomplish so much with so few advantages.</p> + +<p>The child had been a great source of amusement to all on shipboard. Her +utter ignorance of the outside world, her quaint frankness and innocence +tempted Giffard to play off on her curiosity and tell wonderful tales of +the mother country. And then Wanamee would recount Indian legends and +strange charms and rites used by the sages of the Abenaquis in the time +of her forefathers, before any white man had been seen in the country.</p> + +<p>Then their homeward route began, the pause at the Isle d'Orléans, the +narrowing river, the more familiar Point Levis, the frowning rocks, the +palisades, and the fort. All the rest was wildness, except the clearing +that had been made and kept free that no skulking enemy should take an +undue advantage and surprise them by a sudden onslaught.</p> + +<p>The Sieur de Champlain came down to meet them. Rose was leaping from +point to point like a young deer. It was no longer a pale face, it had +been a little changed by sun and wind.</p> + +<p>"Well, little one, hast thou made many discoveries?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, yes, indeed. I would not mind going to France now. And we have +brought back some such queer things; beautiful, too. But we did not like +some of the cooking, miladi and I, and Quebec is dearer, for it is +home," and her eyes shone with delight.</p> + +<p>"Home! Thanks, little maid, for your naming it on this wise," and he +smiled down in the eager face as he turned to greet Madame.</p> + +<p>She was a little weary of the wildness and loneliness of dense woods and +great hills and banks of the river, that roared and shrieked at times as +if ghost-haunted. Wanamee's stories had touched the superstitious +threads of her brain.</p> + +<p>M. Giffard took the Sieur's arm and drew him a trifle aside. Destournier +offered his to the lady and assisted her up the rocky steep. Many a +tragedy would pass there before old Quebec became new Quebec, with +famous and heroic story.</p> + +<p>She leaned a little heavily on his arm. "The motion of the ship is still +swaying my brain," she remarked, with a soft laugh. "So, if I am +awkward, I crave your patience. Oh, see that child! She will surely +fall."</p> + +<p>Rose was climbing this way and that, now hugging a young tree growing +out of some crevice, then letting it go with a great flap, now +snatching a handful of wild flowers, and treading the fragrance out of +wild grapes.</p> + +<p>"She is sure-footed like any other wild thing. I saw her first perched +upon that great gray rock yonder."</p> + +<p>"The daring little monkey! I believe they brave every danger. I wonder +if we shall ever learn anything about her. The Sieur has so much on +hand, and men are wont to drop the thread of a pursuit or get it tangled +up with other things, so it would be too much of a burthen to ask him. +And another year I shall go to Paris myself. If she does not develop too +much waywardness, and keeps her good looks, I shall take her."</p> + +<p>"Then I think you may be quite sure of a companion."</p> + +<p>Wanamee had preceded them and thrown open the room to the slant rays of +western sunshine. Madame sank down on a couch, exhausted. The Indian +girl brought in some refreshments.</p> + +<p>"Stay and partake of some," she said, with a winsome smile. "I cannot be +bereft of everybody."</p> + +<p>But the child came in presently, eager and full of news that was hardly +news to her, after all.</p> + +<p>"Pani is here," she exclaimed. "Madame Dubray and her husband have gone +with the trappers. They took Pani. He said he would run away. They kept +him two days, and tied him at night, but he loosened the thongs and ran +nearly all night. Then he has hidden away, for some new people have +taken the house. And he wants to stay here. He will be my slave."</p> + +<p>She looked eagerly at my lady.</p> + +<p>"Thou art getting to be such a venturesome midge that it may be well to +have so devoted an attendant. Yet I remember he left thee alone and ill +and hungry not so long ago."</p> + +<p>Rose laughed gayly.</p> + +<p>"If he had not left me I could not have taken the courage to crawl out. +And no one else might have come. He wanted to see the ships. And Madame +Dubray whipped him well, so that score is settled," with a sound of +justice well-paid for in her voice.</p> + +<p>"We will see"—nodding and laughing.</p> + +<p>"Then can I tell him?"</p> + +<p>"The elders had better do that. But there will be room enough in Quebec +for him and us, I fancy," returned miladi.</p> + +<p>Rose ran away. Pani was waiting out on the gallery.</p> + +<p>"They will not mind," she announced. "But you must have some place to +sleep, and"—studying him critically from the rather narrow face, the +bony shoulders, and slim legs—"something to eat. Mère Dubray had +plenty, except towards spring when the stores began to fail."</p> + +<p>"I can track rabbits and hares, and catch fish on the thin places in the +rivers. Oh, I shall not starve. But I'm hungry."</p> + +<p>The wistful look in his eyes touched her.</p> + +<p>"Let us find Wanamee," she exclaimed, leading the way to the culinary +department.</p> + +<p>Miladi had been surprised and almost shocked at the rough manner of +living in this new France. The food, too, was primitive, lacking in the +delicacies to which she had been used, and the manners she thought +barbarous. But for M. Destournier and the courtesy of the Sieur she +would have prayed to return at once.</p> + +<p>"Wait a little," pleaded Laurent. "If there is a fortune to be made in +this new world, why should we not have our share? And I can see that +there is. Matters are quite unsettled at home, but if we go back with +gold in our purses we shall do well enough."</p> + +<p>Then the child had appealed to her. And it was flattering to be the only +lady of note and have homage paid to her.</p> + +<p>So the children sought Wanamee, and while Pani brought some sticks and +soon had a bed of coals, Wanamee stirred up some cakes of rye and maize, +and the boy prepared a fish for cooking. He was indeed hungry, and his +eyes glistened with the delight of eating.</p> + +<p>"It smells so good," said Rose. "Wanamee, bring me a piece. I can always +eat now, and a while ago I could not bear the smell of food."</p> + +<p>"You were so thin and white. And Mère Dubray thought every morning you +would be dead. You wouldn't like to be put in the ground, would you?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, no, no!" shivering.</p> + +<p>"Nor burned. Then you go to ashes and only the bones are left."</p> + +<p>"That is horrid, too. Burning hurts. I have burned my fingers with +coals."</p> + +<p>"But my people don't mind it. They are very brave. And you go to the +great hunting grounds way over to the west, where the good Manitou has +everything, and you don't have to work, and no one beats you."</p> + +<p>"The white people have a heaven. That is above the sky. And when the +stars come out it is light as day on the other side, and there are +flowers and trees, and rivers and all manner of fruit such as you never +see here."</p> + +<p>"I'd rather hunt. When I get to be a man I shall go off and discover +wonderful things. In some of the mountains there is gold. And out by the +great oceans where the Hurons have encamped there are copper and silver. +The company talked about it. Some were for going there. And there were +fur animals, all the same."</p> + +<p>Rose had been considering another subject.</p> + +<p>"Pani," she began, with great seriousness, "you are not any one's slave +now."</p> + +<p>"No"—rather hesitatingly. "The Dubrays will never come back, or if they +should next summer, with furs, I will run away again up to the Saguenay, +where they will not look. But there are Indian boys in plenty where the +tribes fight and take prisoners."</p> + +<p>"You shall be my slave."</p> + +<p>The young Indian's cheek flushed.</p> + +<p>"The slave of a girl!" he said, with a touch of disdain.</p> + +<p>"Why not? I should not beat you."</p> + +<p>"Oh, you couldn't"—triumphantly.</p> + +<p>"But you might be miladi's slave," suggested Wanamee, "and then you +could watch the little one and follow her about to see that nothing +harmed her."</p> + +<p>"There shouldn't anything hurt her." He sprang up. "You see I am growing +tall, and presently I shall be a man. But I won't be a slave always."</p> + +<p>"No, no," said the Indian woman.</p> + +<p>"That was very good, excellent," pointing to the two empty birch-bark +dishes, which he picked up and threw on the coals, a primitive way to +escape dish washing. "I will find you a heap more. I will get fish or +berries, and oh, I know where the bees have stored a lot of honey in a +hollow tree."</p> + +<p>"You let them alone for another month," commanded Wanamee. "Honey—that +will be a treat indeed."</p> + +<p>Miladi had missed the sweets of her native land, though there they had +not been over-plentiful, since royalty must needs be served first. They +bought maple sugar and a kind of crude syrup of the Abenaqui women, who +were quite experts in making it. When the sun touched the trees in the +morning when the hoarfrost had disappeared, they inserted tubes of bark, +rolled tightly, and caught the sap in the troughs. Then they filled +their kettles that swung over great fires, and the fragrance arising +made the forests sweet with a peculiar spiciness. It was a grand time +for the children, who snatched some of the liquid out of the kettle on a +birch-bark ladle, and ran into the woods for it to cool. Pani had often +been with them.</p> + +<p>"Let us go down to the old house," exclaimed Rose. "Do you know who is +there?"</p> + +<p>"Pierre Gaudrion. He gets stone for the new walls they are laying +against the fort. And there are five or six little ones."</p> + +<p>"It must be queer. Oh, let us go and see them."</p> + +<p>She was off like a flash, but he followed as swiftly. Here was the +garden where she had pulled weeds with a hot hatred in her heart that +she would have liked to tear up the whole garden and throw it over in +the river. She glanced around furtively—what if Mère Dubray should come +suddenly in search of Pani.</p> + +<p>Three little ones were tumbling about on the grass. The oldest girl was +grinding at the rude mill, a boy was making something out of birch +branches, interlaced with willow. A round, cheerful face glanced up from +patching a boy's garment, and smiled. Madame Gaudrion's mother had been +a white woman left at the Saguenay basin in a dying condition, it was +supposed, but she had recovered and married a half-breed. One daughter +had cast in her lot with a roving tribe. Pierre Gaudrion had seen the +other in one of the journeys up to Tadoussac and brought her home.</p> + +<p>The Sieur did not discourage these marriages, for the children +generally affiliated with the whites, and if the colony was to prosper +there must be marriages and children.</p> + +<p>Rose stopped suddenly, rather embarrassed, for all her bravado.</p> + +<p>"I used to live here," as if apologizing.</p> + +<p>"Yes. But Mère Dubray was not your mother."</p> + +<p>"No. Nor Catherine Arlac."</p> + +<p>The woman shook her head. "I know not many people. We live on the other +side. And the babies come so fast I have not much time. But Pierre say +now we must have bigger space and garden for the children to work in. So +we are glad when Mère Dubray go up to the fur country with her man. You +were ill, they said. But you do not look ill. Did you not want to go +with her?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, no, no. And I live clear up there," nodding to the higher altitude. +"M'sieu Hébert is there and Madame. And a beautiful lady, Madame +Giffard. I did not love Mère Dubray."</p> + +<p>"If I have a child that will not love me, it would break my heart. What +else are little ones for until they grow up and marry in turn?"</p> + +<p>"But—I was not her child."</p> + +<p>"And your mother."</p> + +<p>"I do not know. She was dead before I could remember. Then I was brought +from France."</p> + +<p>Suddenly she felt the loss of her mother. She belonged to no one in the +world.</p> + +<p>"Poor <i>petite</i>." She made a sudden snatch at her own baby and hugged it +so tightly that it shrieked, at which she laughed.</p> + +<p>"Some day a man will hug thee and thou wilt not scream," she said in +good humor.</p> + +<p>Pani came from round the corner and then darted back. The boy left his +work and came forward.</p> + +<p>"Who was that?" he asked. "My father said 'get an Indian boy to work in +the garden.' I am making a chair for the little one. And I can't tell +which are weeds. Yesterday I pulled up some onions and father was angry, +but he could set them out again."</p> + +<p>Rose laughed at that, and thought it remarkable that his father did not +beat him.</p> + +<p>"Pani might show you a little. He belongs to me now. We both used to +work in the garden. Mère Dubray was always knitting and cooking."</p> + +<p>Pani emerged again. "Yes, let us go," and Rose led the way, but she +would have liked to throw herself down among the babies, who seemed all +arms and legs.</p> + +<p>"Can you read?" the boy said suddenly. "We have a book and I can read +quite well. My father knows how. And I want to be a great man like the +Sieur, and some of the soldiers. I want to know how to keep accounts, +and to go to France some time in the big ships."</p> + +<p>Rose colored. "I am going to learn to read this winter, when we have to +stay in. But it is very difficult—tiresome. I'd rather climb the rocks +and watch the birds. I had some once that would come for grains and bits +of corn cake. And the geese were so tame down there by the end of the +garden."</p> + +<p>The rows of corn stood up finely, shaking out their silken heads, +turning to a bronze red. Then there were potatoes. These were of the +Dubrays' planting, as well as some of the smaller beds.</p> + +<p>"M'sieu Hébert gave father some of these plants. He knows a great deal, +and he can make all kinds of medicine. It is very fine to know a great +deal, isn't it?"</p> + +<p>"But it must be hard to study so much," returned Rose, with a sigh.</p> + +<p>"I don't think so. I wish I had ever so many books like the Sieur and M. +Hébert. And you can find out places—there are so many of them in the +world. And do you know there are English people working with all their +might down in Virginia, and Spanish and Dutch! But some day we shall +drive them all out and it will be New France as far as you can go. And +the Indians——"</p> + +<p>"You can't drive the Indians out," exclaimed Pani decisively. "The whole +country is theirs. And there are so many of them. There are tribes and +tribes all over the land. And they know how to fight."</p> + +<p>"They are fighting each other continually. M. Hébert says they will +sweep each other off after a while. And they are very cruel. You will +see the French do not fight the French."</p> + +<p>Alas, young Pierre Gaudrion, already Catholic and Huguenot were at war: +one fighting for the right to live in a certain liberty of belief, the +other thinking they did God a service by undertaking their +extermination.</p> + +<p>The argument rather floored Pani, whose range of knowledge was only wide +enough to know that many tribes were at bitter enmity with each other.</p> + +<p>"Do you want to work in the garden? There are weeds enough to keep you +busy," said Pierre presently.</p> + +<p>"No," returned Pani stoutly.</p> + +<p>"And Pani belongs to me," declared Rose.</p> + +<p>Pierre turned to look at the girl. Her beauty stirred him strangely. +Sometimes, when his father sang the old songs of home, the same quiver +went through every pulse.</p> + +<p>"I'm sorry," he said, in a gentler tone. "Now I must go back to my +chair."</p> + +<p>"Is it to be a chair?"</p> + +<p>"I can't weave the grasses just right, though some one showed me, only I +was thinking of other things."</p> + +<p>"Let's see." Pani was a little mollified.</p> + +<p>They went back to the boy's work.</p> + +<p>"I'm only making a little one for Marie. Then I shall try a larger one. +There are two in the room."</p> + +<p>Yes, Rose knew them well. The place was about the same, with the great +bunk on one side and the smaller one on the other. Mère Dubray's bright +blankets were gone, with the pictures of the Virgin, and the high +candlestick, that was alight on certain days. Little mattresses filled +with dried grass were piled on top of the bunk. It looked like, and yet +unlike. Rose was glad she did not live here.</p> + +<p>Pani inspected the boy's work.</p> + +<p>"Oh, you haven't it right. You must put pegs in here, then you can pull +it up. And this is the way you go."</p> + +<p>Pani's deft fingers went in and out like a bit of machinery. It was +forest lore, and he was at home in it.</p> + +<p>"You make it beautiful," exclaimed Pierre. "Oh, go slower, so I can +understand."</p> + +<p>Pani smiled with the praise and put in a word of explanation now and +then. The boys were fast becoming friends.</p> + +<p>"Maman," Pierre cried, "come and see how fine the boy does it. If he +would come and live with us!"</p> + +<p>"I might come a little while and look after the garden. And I could +catch fish and I know the best places for berries, and the grapes will +soon be ripening. And the plums. I can shoot birds with an arrow. But I +belong to mam'selle."</p> + +<p>"If she will let you come now and then," wistfully.</p> + +<p>"Yes, I might," with an air of condescension.</p> + +<p>"Thou art a pretty little lady," was Mère Gaudrion's parting benison to +the little girl, and Rose smiled. "Come again often."</p> + +<p>When they were out of the narrow passageway she said, "Now let us have a +race. I am glad Mère Dubray is there no longer, are you not? But what a +funny pile of children!"</p> + +<p>They had their race, and a climb, and on the gallery they found miladi +looking for them, and they told over their adventure.</p> + +<p>"Yes," she said smilingly. "I think we can find a place for Pani, and +between us all I fancy we can keep him so well employed he will not want +to run away."</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_VI" id="CHAPTER_VI"></a>CHAPTER VI</h2> + +<h3>FINDING AMUSEMENTS</h3> + + +<p>About the middle of August the Sieur de Champlain and Captain François +de Pontgrave sailed from Tadoussac for France. The Giffards, +Destournier, and several others accompanied them to the port, and were +then to survey some of the places that had advantages for planting +colonies. They did not return until in September. The season was +unusually fine and warm, and there had been an abundance of everything. +The colonists had been busy enough preparing for winter. They had +learned ways of drying fruit, of smoking meats and fish, of caring for +their grains. There had been no talk of Indian raids, indeed the +villages about were friendly with the whites, and friendly with several +of the outlying tribes. Some had gone on raids farther south.</p> + +<p>Madame Giffard would have found time hanging heavy on her hands but for +the child. She began to teach her to read and to play checkers. Rose did +not take kindly to embroidery, but some of the Indian work interested +her. With Pani and Wanamee's assistance she made baskets and curious +vase-like jars. Pierre Gaudrion came up now and then, and miladi +considered him quite a prodigy in several ways.</p> + +<p>When they were dull and tired miladi gave Rose dancing lessons. The +child was really fascinated with the enjoyment. Miladi would dress up in +one of her pretty gowns to the child's great delight, and they would +invent wonderful figures. Sometimes the two men would join them, and +they would keep up the amusement till midnight.</p> + +<p>Pani was growing rapidly and he was their most devoted knight. And when +the snows set in there were great snowballing games; sometimes between +the Indians alone, at others, the whites would take a hand.</p> + +<p>It was splendid entertainment for the children to slide about on the +snowy crust, that glistened in the sunlight as if sprinkled with gems. +The Indian women often participated in this amusement. And miladi looked +as bewitching in her deerskin suit, with its fringes and bright +adornments of feather borders, and her lovely furs, as in her Paris +attire. She often thought she would like to walk into some assembly and +make a stir in her strange garments.</p> + +<p>What is the Sieur doing? Making new bargains, persuading colonists to +join them, getting concessions to the profit of New France. Alas! Old +France was a selfish sort of stepmother. She wanted furs, she wanted +colonies planted, she wanted explorations, and possessions taken in +every direction, to thwart English and Dutch, who seemed somehow to be +prospering, but the money supplies were pared to the narrowest edge.</p> + +<p>The little girl would have been much interested in one step her dear +Sieur was taking, though she did not hear of it until long afterward. +This was his betrothment and marriage to Marie Hélène, the daughter of +Nicolas Boullé, private secretary to the young King. A child of twelve, +and the soldier and explorer who was now forty or over, but held his +years well and the hardships had written few lines on his kindly and +handsome face. That he was very much charmed with the child, who was +really quite mature for her age, was true, though it is thought the +friendship of her father and her dowry had some weight. But she adored +her heroic lover, although she was to be returned to the convent to +finish her education. Then the Sieur made his will and settled a part of +the dowry on his bride, and the income of all his other property, his +maps and books, "in case of his death in voyages on the sea and in the +service of the King."</p> + +<p>If the autumn had been lovely and long beyond expectations, winter +lingered as well. And the travellers had a hard time on their return. +Lofty bergs floated down the Atlantic, and great floes closed in around +the vessel, and the rigging was encased in glittering ice. Sometimes +their hearts failed them and the small boats were made ready, but +whither would they steer? Captain Pontgrave kept up his courage, and +"when they brought their battered craft into the harbor of Tadoussac +they fired a cannon shot in joyous salute," says history. Seventy-four +days had their journey lasted.</p> + +<p>The country was still white with snow, although it was May. Already some +trading vessels were bidding for furs, but the Montagnais had had a hard +winter as well, and the Bay traders would have perished on the way.</p> + +<p>Champlain pushed on to Quebec, though his heart was full of fears.</p> + +<p>Rose was out on the gallery, that Pani was clearing from the frequent +light falls of snow. A canoe was being rowed by some Indians and in the +stern sat the dearly-loved Commander. "They have come! they have come!" +shouted Rose, and she ran in to spread the joyful news. Destournier and +Giffard were at a critical point in a game of chess, but both sprang up. +The bell pealed out, there was a salute, and every one in the fort +rushed out with exclamations of joy. For the sake of the little girl he +had left, the Sieur stooped and kissed Rose.</p> + +<p>Du Parc was in the best of spirits, and had only a good account. There +had been no sickness, no Indian troubles, and provisions had lasted +well. All was joy and congratulations. Even the Indian settlements near +by built bonfires and beat their drums, dancing about with every +indication of delighted welcome.</p> + +<p>He had brought with him the young Indian Savignon, while Etienne Brulé +had wintered with the Ottawas, perfecting himself in their language. He +was a fine specimen of his race, as far as physique went, and his winter +in civilization had given him quite a polish.</p> + +<p>There was a great feast. Miladi was in her glory ordering it, and +Savignon paid her some compliments that quite savored of old times in +her native land. She was fond of admiration, and here there was but +small allowance of it.</p> + +<p>He was to restore the young brave to his tribe, and Destournier was to +accompany him. He saw that with trade open to rivals there must be some +stations. It was true no men could be spared to form a new colony, and +the few he had induced to emigrate would do better service in the old +settlement. In Cartier's time there had been the village of Hochelega. +It was a great stretch of open fertile land, abounding in wild fruits +and grapes, so he pre-empted it in the name of the King, put up a stout +cross, and built two or three log huts, and planted some grain seeds +that might in turn scatter themselves around. And so began Montreal. The +river was dotted with islands; the largest, on which the wild iris, the +fleur-de-lis, grew abundantly, he named St. Hélène, in remembrance of +his little betrothed.</p> + +<p>They pushed on beyond the rapids and here he met the Algonquins and +restored their young brave to them, and was glad to find Etienne Brulé +in good health and spirits. But Savignon bade him farewell ruefully, +declaring life in Paris was much more agreeable, and spoiled one for the +wilderness.</p> + +<p>Various bands of Hurons and Algonquins came to meet the great white +Sagamore, and he secured much trade for the coming season. But the fur +business was being greatly scattered, and Demont's finances were at a +rather low ebb, so there could not be the necessary branching out.</p> + +<p>Destournier had some schemes as well. He had come to the new world +partly from curiosity and the desire to mend his fortunes. He saw now +some fine openings, if he could get a concession or grant of land. His +old family seat might be disposed of, he had not Laurent Giffard's aim +to make a fortune here and go back to France and spend it for show.</p> + +<p>Madame Giffard was deeply disappointed at this prospect, and Rose was +inconsolable.</p> + +<p>"Who will read to us in the long evenings and the days when the driving +snow makes it seem like night. And oh, M'sieu, who will dance with me +and tell me those delightful stories, and laugh at my sayings that come +like birds' flights across my mind and go their way?"</p> + +<p>"You will have miladi. And there are the Gaudrion children. Pierre has a +heart full of worship for you. And books that the Governor brought. The +time will pass quickly."</p> + +<p>"To you. There will be so many things. But the long, long days. And +miladi says there are so many pretty girls in Paris, whose dancing and +singing are marvellous, and who would laugh at a frock of deerskin. Oh, +you will forget me, and all the time I shall think of you. You will not +care."</p> + +<p>Her beautiful eyes were suffused with tears, the brilliance of her cheek +faded, and her bosom heaved with emotion. What a girl she would be a few +years hence. His dear Sieur had married a child—was he really in love +with her? But his regard was fatherly, brotherly.</p> + +<p>"See," he began, "we will make a bargain. When the first star comes out +you will watch for it and say, 'M'sieu Ralph is looking at it and +thinking of me.' And I will say—'the little Rose of Quebec is turning +toward me,' and we will meet in heart. Will not this comfort thee?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, I shall hug it to my heart. The star! the star! And when the sky is +thick with clouds I shall remember you told me the stars were always +there. And I will shut my eyes and see you. I see strange things at +times."</p> + +<p>"So you must not be unhappy, for I shall return," and he took her +throbbing fingers in his.</p> + +<p>She raised her lovely eyes. What a charming coquette she would make, if +she were not so innocent. But the long fringe of lashes was beaded with +tears.</p> + +<p>It was odd, he thought, but with all the admiration of her husband +miladi made as great a time as the child. What should she do in this +horrible lonely place, shut up in the fort all winter, with no company +but an Indian woman and a child whose limited understanding took in only +foolish pleasures. What miladi needed was companionship. Ah! if she +could return to France. If Laurent would only consent. But now he +thought only of fortune-making.</p> + +<p>"And a return at the end. He is not taking root here. I am. I like the +boundless freedom of this new country," said Destournier.</p> + +<p>"You will marry. There is some demoiselle at home on whom your heart is +set. And the old friendship will go for naught. You have been—yes, like +a brother," and she flushed.</p> + +<p>"No, I am not likely to marry," he returned gravely.</p> + +<p>"But—you will not return," in a desperate kind of tone. "You will be +won by Paris."</p> + +<p>"I shall return. All my interests are here. And as I said—I shall leave +my heart in this new country."</p> + +<p>Then she smiled, a little secure in the thought that she had no rival.</p> + +<p>So again the Sieur de Champlain set sail for France, and many a +discourse he held with Ralph Destournier on the future of Quebec, that +child of his dreams and his heart. It would be fame enough, he thought, +to be handed down to posterity as the founder of Quebec, the explorer of +the great inland seas that joining arms must lead across the continent.</p> + +<p>Miladi was very capricious, Rose found, although she did not know the +meaning of the word. What she wanted to-day she scouted to-morrow. +Rose's reading was enough to set one wild. Sure she was not +French-born, or she would know by intuition. Sometimes she would say +pettishly, "Go away, child, you disturb me," and then Rose would play +hide-and-seek with Pani, or run down to the Gaudrions. Marie was quite +an expert in Indian embroidery, the children were gay and frolicsome, +and there was a new baby. Pierre was very fond of her; a studious +fellow, with queer ideas that often worked themselves out in some useful +fashion. They read together, stumbling over words they could not +understand.</p> + +<p>"And I shall build a boat of my own and go out to those wonderful +rapids. At one moment it feels as if you would be submerged, then you +ride up on top with a shout. Cubenic said the Sieur stood it as bravely +as any Indian. Why—if your boat was overturned you could swim."</p> + +<p>"But there's a current that sucks you in. And there's a strange woman, a +windigo, who haunts the rapids and drags you down and eats you."</p> + +<p>"I don't believe such nonsense. In one of the Sieur's books there is a +story of some people who believed there was a spirit in everything. +There were gods of the waters, of the trees, of the winds, and the +Indians are much like them. I've never found any of their gods, have +you?"</p> + +<p>"No"—rather reluctantly. "But Wanamee has. And sometimes they bring +back dead people."</p> + +<p>"Then they don't always eat them," and the boy laughed.</p> + +<p>She had meant to tell miladi of her tryst and beg her to come out and +see the star, but when she found her not only indifferent, but fretful, +she refrained and was glad presently that she had this delicious secret +to herself. But there was a great mystery. Sometimes the star was +different. Instead of being golden, it was a pale blue, and then almost +red. Was it that way in France, she wondered.</p> + +<p>She came to have a strange fondness for the stars, and to note their +changes. Was it true that the old people M'sieu Ralph had read about, +the Greeks, had seen their gods and goddesses taken up to the sky and +set in the blue? There were thrones mounted with gems, there were +figures that chased each other; to-night they were here, to-morrow night +somewhere else. But the star that came out first was hers, and she sent +a message across the ocean with it. And the star said in return, "I am +thinking of you."</p> + +<p>He did think of her, and tried to trace out some parentage. Catherine +Defroy had gone from St. Malo, a single woman. Then by all the accounts +he could find she must have spent two years in Paris. Clearly she was +not mother of the child.</p> + +<p>After all, what did it matter? Rose would probably spend her life in New +France. If it was never proven that she came of gentlefolks, Laurent +Giffard would hardly consent to his wife's mothering her. He had a good +deal of pride of birth.</p> + +<p>The winter passed away and this year spring came early, unchaining the +streams and sending them headlong to the rivers; filling the air with +the fragrant new growth of the pines, hemlocks, and cedars, the young +grasses, and presently all blossoming things. The beauty touched Rose +deeply. No one understood, so she only talked of these strange things to +the trees and the stars at night. Often she was a merry romp, climbing +rocks, out in a canoe, which she had learned to manage perfectly, though +sometimes Pani accompanied her, sometimes Pierre Gaudrion, who was +growing fast and making himself very useful to Du Parc.</p> + +<p>As for the Sieur, he found much to engross his attention. There was a +new trading company that had the privilege of eleven years. There was +another volume of voyages and discoveries, the maps and illustrations +finely engraved. Then he had laid before the secretary of the King the +urgent need of some religious instruction. Acadia had quite a thriving +Jesuit mission. This order was not in high favor with Champlain, who +deprecated their narrowness. The Sieur Houel recommended the Récollets, +and four willing missionaries were finally chosen. The company had +fitted up a large vessel and were taking all the stores they could +purchase or beg, and quite a number of emigrants of a better class than +heretofore.</p> + +<p>They were all warmly welcomed, and found the colonists in very good +order. The enthusiastic priest startled them by kneeling on the soil and +devoutly consecrating it to God, and giving thanks that He had called +them to this new and arduous field of labor. The coarse gray cassock +girt at the waist with a bit of rope, the pointed hood, which often hung +around their necks and betrayed the shaven crown, their general air of +poverty and humility attracted attention, but did not so much appeal to +the colonists or the Indians. They were fearful of the new order of +things.</p> + +<p>Quebec had enlarged her borders somewhat. The one-roomed hut had spread +out into two or three apartments. The gardens had increased. Some roads +had been made, the workmen taking the stone quarried to add to their own +houses. Still they received the fathers with a certain degree of +cordiality.</p> + +<p>Champlain set aside ground for their convent, and they first erected an +altar and celebrated Mass. Père Dolbeau was the officiating priest. The +people, most of whom came from curiosity, knelt around on the earth, +while cannon from the ramparts announced the mystic services. The +Giffards joined in them reverentially, but Rose was full of wonderment. +Indeed, her joy was so great at seeing Destournier again that she could +give thanks for nothing else.</p> + +<p>Then they erected a rude hut and discussed the work that lay before +them. Le Caron would go to the Hurons, Dolbeau to the Montagnais, Jamay +and Du Plessis would take charge of Quebec and the outlying provinces, +and planned to build a chapel.</p> + +<p>Destournier had been successful with his grant. He bad been made +seignior of a large tract outside of the town, which was destined one +day to be a part of it. Here he settled some friendly Indians, and +several of the new-comers, who were to till the soil under his +directions, and raise different crops to ward off the scarcity of +rations in the winter. He would build a house for himself and live among +them.</p> + +<p>"But why not remain in the fort?" asked miladi. "What charm can you find +with those ignorant people? Though perhaps peas and beans, radishes and +cabbages may console one for more intellectual pursuits."</p> + +<p>"I shall only spend the days with them at present," he returned, with a +smile.</p> + +<p>And now again came the influx of the fur-traders. It had been a good +season and from the new settlement of Montreal to Tadoussac, vessels +were packing away the precious freight. Champlain had gone with a body +of soldiers to help defend a town the Iroquois had threatened to attack. +The missions thus far had borne no fruit. Indeed the new teaching of the +Récollets in its severity was not pleasant. The Hurons were seized with +a panic after losing several of their leaders and the Sieur was wounded. +All winter the people at Quebec waited anxiously for their leader, and +parties set out to see if they could find any tidings. At last they were +sighted, and great was the joy at finding their beloved chieftain well +and unharmed. But he was not allowed to remain long in his pet +settlement. There were disputes and altercations, and he was summoned to +France.</p> + +<p>"Another year we shall go ourselves," announced Laurent Giffard to his +wife. "We have enough now to make ourselves comfortable, and I doubt if +the company can weather through. At all events I shall be glad to be +well out of it. Art thou glad of the prospect?"</p> + +<p>"There is great commotion with the King and his mother, and between +Huguenot and Catholic," she made answer slowly. "Does the Sieur +Destournier throw up his schemes in disgust as well?"</p> + +<p>"Ah, I think he is wedded to the soil. The Governor trusts everything to +him, and Du Parc, and both are capable men. But truth to tell I have +lost faith in the colony. I hear the Virginians and the Bostonnais are +doing much better. France cannot, or will not, spend the money, nor send +the men to put the place on a sure foundation. The Indians grow more +troublesome. They hate being meddled with by the priests. They take +wives when they want them, and send them away when they are tired of +them. They torture prisoners—some day the priests will have a taste of +it themselves."</p> + +<p>"They are all horrible," she said, with a shiver.</p> + +<p>"And we will go back to La Belle France. I fancy I can manage a sort of +preferment with Dubissay, who has the ear of the Queen mother at +present. At all events I am tired of this turmoil, and thou, <i>ma mie</i>, +art wasting thy beauty in this savage land."</p> + +<p>He stooped and kissed her. If he had been ready last year, she would +have hailed the prospect with delight. Why did it not seem so attractive +now?</p> + +<p>"And the child?" she asked presently, her eyes fixed on the floor.</p> + +<p>Was the tone indifferent?</p> + +<p>"How much dost thou love her, <i>ma mie</i>? At first thy heart was sore for +the loss of our own, but time heals all such wounds. Destournier left no +stone unturned to discover her parentage, and failed. I think she has +been some one's love child. True we could give her our name, and with a +good dowry she could marry well. But she will want some years of convent +training to tone her down."</p> + +<p>"And if we should leave her here? Though they say Miladi de Champlain +comes over soon, and there may be a court with maids of honor."</p> + +<p>He laughed. "What I fancy is this, though I am no seer. Destournier is +fond of her, fatherly now, but she is shooting up into a tall girl. +There will not be so many years between them as the Sieur and +Mademoiselle Boullé. And some day he will take her to wife. 'Twere a +pity to spoil the romance. She adores him."</p> + +<p>Miladi bit her lip hard, and drew her brow into a sharp frown.</p> + +<p>"What nonsense!" she made answer.</p> + +<p>"Destournier is a fine fellow, and will be a rich one some day."</p> + +<p>"The more need that he should marry in his own station."</p> + +<p>"But there is talk of reproducing home titles in this new land. And +Baron Destournier can raise his wife to his own station. If the child +should not be amenable to training, or develop some waywardness, there +might be sorrow, rather than joy or satisfaction in thine heart."</p> + +<p>"There will be time enough to consider," she returned.</p> + +<p>He left the room. She went out on the shady side of the gallery, and +looked down over the town. The two under discussion a moment ago were +climbing the steep rocks instead of taking the path where steps were +cut. The wind blew her shining hair about, her face was filled with +ripples of laughter. He took her arm and she would have no help, but +sprang like a deer from point to point, then turned to throw her +merriment at him.</p> + +<p>"Yes, miladi would take her to France. What if some day he should +follow?"</p> + +<p>The Governor spent a month in intense satisfaction, enlarging the +borders of his pet garden, talking with M. Hébert, who had been watching +the growth of some fine fruit trees imported from northern France, that +had blossomed and were perfecting a few specimens of fruit. He thought +sometimes it would be a joy to give up all cares and rest in cultivating +the soil. If the summers were short everything grew abundantly. There +were several rare plants, also, that they had acclimated.</p> + +<p>"Bring thy wife over and be content," advised M. Hébert, in a cordial +tone, "and enjoy the governorship."</p> + +<p>M. de Champlain laughed. But presently he said: "Friend, you little know +the delights of an explorer who brings new countries to light, who +builds cities that may continue after him. The route to India has not +yet been located. The fields of gold and silver have not been +discovered. The lilies of France have not been planted over there," +nodding his head. "We must go before the Spaniard gets a foothold. Yet +there are delights I must confess that even Horace longed for—a +garden."</p> + +<p>But if he longed for it at times he found the restless current hurrying +him on. Some disaffected members of the company were bringing charges +against him, desiring to depose him from the governorship. But Condé, +who had again come into power, knew there was not another man who would +work so untiringly for the good of New France, or make it bring in such +rich returns.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_VII" id="CHAPTER_VII"></a>CHAPTER VII</h2> + +<h3>JOURNEYING TO A FAR COUNTRY</h3> + + +<p>The colony passed a very fair winter. It was in the latter part of April +that one night an alarm was given and the big bell at the fort rang out +its call to arms.</p> + +<p>The messenger had trudged through the snow and was breathless.</p> + +<p>"An Indian attack. The Iroquois are burning the settlement, and +murdering our people. To arms! to arms!"</p> + +<p>There had been no Indian raid for a long while. Destournier had tried to +fortify the back of his plantation. There were Montagnais and Algonquins +of the better type living there peaceably. It was not altogether +cupidity. An Iroquois woman had been found cruelly murdered, and the +wandering band laid it at once to the settlement. It took only a brief +while to work themselves up to a frenzy.</p> + +<p>It did not take long to plan revenge. There was no chief at the head; +indeed, in these roving bands it was every brave for himself. And now +after a powwow, since they were not large enough in numbers to attack +the fort, and they found some of the Indian converts were in the new +settlement, they determined on an onslaught.</p> + +<p>The barricade at the back was high and strong. It was not so well +fortified on the side toward the fort, and they pushed through a weak +place at the end, lighted their torches, and commenced a treacherous +assault. Roused from their slumbers, and terrified to the last degree, +the air was soon filled with shrieks, and bursting in doors, the houses +were set on fire. They were wary enough to guard their loop-hole for +escape, but they found themselves outnumbered, and in turn had to fight +for their own lives. The blazing huts lighted up the snow in a weird +fashion; the shrieks and cries and jargon of the Iroquois added to the +frightfulness. Yet the struggle was brief. The enemy, finding themselves +on the losing side, began to fly, pursued by the soldiers, and indeed, +many of the inhabitants.</p> + +<p>Destournier roused at the first alarm, and Du Parc gave orders that were +speedily obeyed. The citadel was in a glow of light and wild commotion.</p> + +<p>Giffard ran down the stone steps with his musket. Destournier barred his +way.</p> + +<p>"Some of us have no wives," he said briefly. "Go back and keep guard +until we see what the dastardly attack means."</p> + +<p>"There are wives and children in the settlement," was the reply, but he +paused while Destournier ran on. When he was out of sight, Giffard +followed.</p> + +<p>The soldiers pursued the flying band, but they presently plunged into +the woods and crept on stealthily, while the pursuers returned. The gray +morning began to dawn on the smoking ruin and the fitful blazes that the +men were trying hard to extinguish with the snow. Destournier went from +one to another. A few huts had not been disturbed, and crying women and +children were crowding in them. Some bodies lay silent on the +blood-stained snow. Destournier had taken great pride in the surprise he +had thought to give the Governor on his return, and here lay most of his +hopes in ruins.</p> + +<p>He gave orders that the wounded should be taken to the fort for +treatment. It was a gratification to find two Iroquois dead, and when a +soldier despatched a wounded one he made no comment. It was pitiful when +the sun rose over the scene of destruction.</p> + +<p>"Still there could not have been a large body, or the carnage would have +been more complete," he said, with some comforting assurance.</p> + +<p>"You had better come in for some breakfast," an officer remarked. "You +look ghastly, and you are blood-stained."</p> + +<p>He glanced down at his garments. "Yes," he said, "I will take your +advice. I want something hot to drink. And we must send some food over +there."</p> + +<p>Rose came flying in as he was demolishing a savory slice of venison.</p> + +<p>"Where is M. Giffard?" she cried. "Miladi is so frightened. She wants +him at once. Oh, wasn't it dreadful! Thank the saints you are safe!"</p> + +<p>"Giffard!" He had caught two or three glimpses of him in the mêlée. "He +may be attending to the wounded. He is a brave fellow in an emergency. I +must find him."</p> + +<p>He swallowed the brandy and water and rushed down to the improvised +hospital. A dozen or more were being fed and nursed by Wanamee and two +other Indian women. The priest, too, was kindly exhorting courage and +patience. Giffard was not here. No one had seen him. He ran over the +crusty, but trodden-down snow, stained here and there with blood. The +sun had risen gorgeously, and there was a decided balminess in the air. +He glanced at the insides of the huts. The furry skins had not been good +conductors of flames, and the snow on the roofs had saved them. Beside +the two dead Iroquois there was an Abenaqui woman and her child. In the +huts that were intact, the frightened women and children had huddled. +Some of the men were already appraising possible repairs.</p> + +<p>"They went this way," announced an Algonquin, in his broken French. He +had been employed about the fort and found trusty.</p> + +<p>The path was marked with blood and fragments of clothing, bags of maize, +that they had dropped in their flight—finding them a burthen. Here lay +an Iroquois with a broken leg, who was twisting himself along. The +Algonquin hit him a blow over the head with the stout club he carried.</p> + +<p>"He will not get much further," he commented, as the Indian dropped over +motionless.</p> + +<p>"Have you seen M. Giffard?" Destournier asked.</p> + +<p>"<i>Non, non</i>. The men came back."</p> + +<p>"He is not at the fort."</p> + +<p>"Shall we follow on?"</p> + +<p>Destournier nodded.</p> + +<p>They heard a step crunching over the snow and waited breathlessly.</p> + +<p>It was Jacques Roleau they saw as he came in sight, one of the workmen +at the fort. He gestured to them that all was right.</p> + +<p>"They have fled, what was left of them," he explained. "I despatched two +wounded Iroquois that they had left behind. There are two of our men +that they must have made prisoners, the M'sieu at the fort who has the +pretty wife, and young Chauvin"—and he paused, as if there was more to +say.</p> + +<p>"Wounded?"</p> + +<p>He shook his head sadly.</p> + +<p>"Dead?" Destournier's breath came with a gasp.</p> + +<p>"Both dead, M'sieu, but strange, neither has been scalped."</p> + +<p>"Let us push on," exclaimed Destournier sadly.</p> + +<p>They followed the trail. After a short distance a body had been dragged +evidently. Roleau led the way through a tortuous path until they came in +sight of a small vacant spot where sometime Indians had camped, as they +could tell by the scorched and blackened trees. A nearly nude body had +been fastened to one and a few dead branches gathered, evidently for a +fire.</p> + +<p>Destournier stood speechless. The head hung down, the face was unmarred, +save for a few scratches, and he gave thanks for that. But his heart was +heavy within him. The poor body had been stabbed and cut, yet it had not +bled much, it seemed.</p> + +<p>He would have felt relieved if he had known the whole story. Two +stalwart bucks had seized Giffard just beyond the settlement and hurried +him along at such a pace that he could hardly breathe. They fastened his +arms behind, each man grasping an elbow, and fairly galloped, until one +of them caught his foot in a fallen tree and went down. In the fall +Giffard's temple struck against a stone that knocked him senseless. He +might have revived, but he was hurried along by a stout leathern thong +slipped under the armpits, and was then dragged a dead weight. They had +stopped for a holocaust and bound him to a tree, while they despatched +the younger man. But there was difficulty in finding anything dry enough +to burn, so they had amused themselves by gashing the dead body. Then +suddenly alarmed they had plunged farther into the forest, leaving one +of their own wounded that Roleau had finished.</p> + +<p>Giffard had been captured in a moment of incautiousness, but the sights +and the wantonness had fired his blood and roused a spirit of +retaliation.</p> + +<p>They had nearly stripped both bodies, and carried off the garments.</p> + +<p>"If you can manage, M'sieu," exclaimed their guide, "I will take the +young fellow." He stooped, picked him up, and threw him over his +shoulder.</p> + +<p>"You will find him a heavy burthen," as the man staggered a little.</p> + +<p>"I can carry. Do not fear," nodding assurance.</p> + +<p>Destournier took off his fur coat and wrapped it about the poor body. +Each took hold of the improvised litter and they commenced their +melancholy journey. How could Madame Giffard stand it, for she really +did love him. The man's heart ached with the sincerest pity.</p> + +<p>They laid down their burthens inside the settlement in one of the partly +destroyed cabins. Du Parc came thither to meet them.</p> + +<p>"Ah," he exclaimed, "that fine young fellow who was going to be a great +success. The company wanted him back in France. And his poor wife! The +blow will kill her."</p> + +<p>"I wished him to remain within for her sake. He was no coward, either. I +would give the whole settlement if it would restore him to life. The +Governor thought it an excellent, but venturesome plan. But we must have +colonists if ever we are to make a town that will be an honor to New +France."</p> + +<p>"It is not such a complete ruin. We have lost two men, one woman, and +three children. Five Iroquois bodies have been found and two are badly +wounded."</p> + +<p>"And two more out in the woods. They had better be buried, so as to stir +up no more strife. It could not have been a large party, or we would +have suffered more severely."</p> + +<p>"The English have had many of these surprises. I think we have been +fortunate, even if we have fewer in numbers. And it would have been +worse if there had been growing crops."</p> + +<p>"I shall have the fortifications strengthened. And perhaps it would be +well to keep guard."</p> + +<p>They left Roleau in charge of the bodies and turned to the fort. The +wounded had been made comfortable.</p> + +<p>Rose sprang down the steps to meet Destournier.</p> + +<p>"Oh, have you found him? Miladi is almost dead with grief and anxiety. +She is sure they have killed M. Giffard."</p> + +<p>"Poor wife! How will we tell her?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, then he is dead?" The child's face was blanched with terror.</p> + +<p>"Yes, he has been killed by the cruel savages. But we have brought home +his body. Who is with her?"</p> + +<p>"Wanamee and Madawando, who is saying charms over her. She is the +medicine woman who brought back the Gaudrion baby when he was dead. Oh, +can you not make her bring back M. Giffard? Miladi will surely die of +grief. Couldn't they put some one in his place? Wouldn't the great God +listen to the priest's prayers?" and she raised her humid, beseeching +eyes.</p> + +<p>"My child, you loved him dearly."</p> + +<p>"Sometimes. Then he made me feel—well, as if I could run away. He was +never cross. Oh, I think it was because he loved Miladi so very much, +there was no room for any one else. And that is why I love you +so—because you have no one belonging to you."</p> + +<p>"We are alike in that," he made answer.</p> + +<p>He saw Wanamee presently.</p> + +<p>"She goes from one dying fit to another. Madawando brings her back. But +if he is dead, M'sieu, why should they not let her join him?"</p> + +<p>Would she be happier in that great unknown land with him. What was there +here for her?</p> + +<p>And some way he felt in part responsible. He had risked his life to save +Destournier's property.</p> + +<p>There were sad days in the fort. The weather came off comparatively +pleasant, and the half-ruined huts were repaired, the wounded healed, +the losses made good, as far as possible. The dead Iroquois were put in +a trench, but better sepulture was provided for the colonists, and the +services over the body of M. Giffard were in a degree military. The two +Récollet priests were kindness and devotion personified, and they said +prayers every hour in their rude little chapel, where a candle was kept +burning before the altar.</p> + +<p>They frowned severely on what they termed the mummeries of Madawando. +Even the Indian converts, and they were few enough, lapsed into charms +and incantations in times of trouble. They willingly had their children +baptized, as if this was one of the charms to ward off danger. But the +priests labored with unabated courage.</p> + +<p>Miladi seemed to hover a long while between the two worlds, it was +thought, but the real spring was coming on, and all nature was reviving. +She had never quite wanted to die, so at the lowest ebb she seemed to +will herself back to life by some occult power.</p> + +<p>Rose meanwhile had run quite wild, but she had been Destournier's +companion in his walks, in his canoe journeys; sometimes with Marie +Gaudrion, she was in and out of the settlement, and as she understood a +little of the several Indian languages, she was quite a favorite; but +Destournier felt troubled about her at times. She was very fearless, +very upright, and detected the subterfuges of the children of the +wilderness, condemning them most severely. But they never seemed angry +with her.</p> + +<p>Sometimes he thought he would send her to France and begin her education +in a convent. But could the wild little thing who skipped and danced and +sung, climbed rocks and trees, managed a canoe, tamed birds that came +and sang on her shoulder, endure the dull routine of convent life? She +could read French quite fluently. She had taken an immense fancy to +Latin, and caught the lines so easily when Destournier read them from +musical Horace, or the stirring scenes of the Odyssey, the only two +Latin books he owned. And her head was stuffed full of wild Indian +tales.</p> + +<p>"I wonder," she said one day, as she sat on the rocks, leaning against +Destournier's knee, the soft wind playing through the silken tendrils of +her hair—"I wonder if you should die whether I could be like miladi, +and want the room dark and have every one go in the softest moccasins, +and have headaches and the sound of any one's voice pierce through you +like a knife. It would be terrible."</p> + +<p>"Why do you think of that?"</p> + +<p>"Because I love you best of everybody. The Governor is very nice, but he +is in France so much and you are here. Then we can climb rocks together +and sit in the forests and hear the trees talk. I go to M. Giffard's +grave and say over the spells Madawando taught me, to bring him back, +but he does not come. If he could, miladi would be bright and gay again, +and we would dance and sing, and have merry times. If you died I should +want to die, too."</p> + +<p>He was touched by the child's simple devotion.</p> + +<p>"I am not going to die. Your Madawando told me I should live to be very +old. There were some curious lines in my hand."</p> + +<p>"I am so glad," she said simply.</p> + +<p>"But you had better not tell the good priest that you are trying to +bring M. Giffard back to life in this Indian fashion. They think it a +sin."</p> + +<p>"I do not like the priests, in their dirty gray gowns, and their heads +looking as if they had been scalped. Only when they read in their book. +It sounds like those great people in the wars of Troy."</p> + +<p>And this was a little Christian girl. Were not the priests also praying +that the souls in purgatory might be lightened of their burden? and he +smiled.</p> + +<p>But somehow miladi pressed heavily upon his conscience. M. Giffard had +come to <i>his</i> assistance, to save his property, as well as to save human +lives. He lost sight of the great brotherhood of mankind, of the heroism +of a truly noble soul. Was there anything he could do to lighten her +burthen?</p> + +<p>At last she expressed a desire to see him. He had looked to find her +wasted away with grief, changed so that it would be sorrow to look upon +her. She was pale, but, it seemed, more really beautiful than he had +ever known her. Her gown was white, and she had a thin black scarf +thrown around her shoulders which enhanced her fairness. There could be +no shopping for mourning in this benighted country.</p> + +<p>"I thought I should go to him," she said in her soft, half-languid +voice. "But the good Père believes there is something for me to do and +that I must be content to remain, and thankful to live. But all is so +changed. Sometimes I make myself believe that Laurent has gone back to +France to settle matters. He counted so on our return. And that he will +come again for me."</p> + +<p>"You would like to go to friends?"</p> + +<p>"Alas, there are not many. Some have gone to England, some to Holland, +not liking the new King's policy. And some are dead. I should have no +one to make a home for me. A woman's loneliness is intense. She cannot +turn to business, nor go out and find friends."</p> + +<p>That was true enough. He pitied her profoundly.</p> + +<p>"Is it true our Governor is bringing his new wife to Quebec?" she asked +presently.</p> + +<p>"So the trading vessels have said. They are already loading up with +furs, and trade seems brisk. Of course it brings great confusion. I have +taken charge of M. Giffard's bales that came in last week. They had +better be sent as usual. The Paris firm is eager for them. They are a +fine lot. What is your pleasure?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, relieve me of all care that you can. I am so helpless. Laurent did +everything. Women were never meant for business, he thought. I am no +wiser than a child."</p> + +<p>She looked so helpless, so sweet, so dependent.</p> + +<p>"I shall be glad to do what I can. Yes, it would be no place for a +woman. She could not manage matters. And if you like to trust me——"</p> + +<p>"I would trust you in all things. Laurent thought your judgment +excellent. He cared so much for you. Oh, if you will take charge——"</p> + +<p>She looked up with sweet, appealing eyes. Did he not owe her some +protection and care? He was pondering silently.</p> + +<p>"You have relieved me of such a burthen. I think I shall get well now. +I hardly knew whether I wanted most to live or die."</p> + +<p>"Life is best, sweetest." It would be for her. He uttered the sentence +involuntarily.</p> + +<p>"You make it so." Her eyes were bewitchingly downcast and a faint color +fluttered over her face, while her pretty hands worked nervously.</p> + +<p>He paced the gallery afterward in the twilight, when the stars were +slowly finding their way through the blue vault overhead, and the river +plashed by with its monotone of music. She might desire to return to +France; this life in the wilderness did not appeal to delicate women. +Yet she had taken it very cheerfully, he thought.</p> + +<p>If she decided to stay—there was one way in which he could befriend +her, perhaps make her happy again. Marriage was hardly considered the +outcome of love in that period, many other considerations entered into +it. There were betrothals where the future husband and wife saw each +other for the first time. And they did very well. His ideas of married +life were a sort of good-fellowship and admiration, if the woman was +pretty; good cooking and a desire to please among the commoner ones. At +four and twenty he had not given the matter much consideration. Madame +Giffard was full thirty, but she looked like a girl in her lightness and +grace. And he owed the memory of M. Giffard something. This step would +make amends and allay a troublesome sort of conscience in the matter.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_VIII" id="CHAPTER_VIII"></a>CHAPTER VIII</h2> + +<h3>WHAT ROSE DID NOT LIKE</h3> + + +<p>Eustache Boullé, the Governor's brother-in-law, had been not a little +surprised when his sister was helped off the vessel at Tadoussac. He +greeted her warmly.</p> + +<p>"But I never believed you would come to this wild country," he +exclaimed, with a half-mischievous smile. "I am afraid the Sieur has let +his hopes of the future run riot in his brain. He can see great things +with that far gaze of his."</p> + +<p>"But a good wife follows her husband. We have had a rather stormy and +tiresome passage, but praised be the saints, we have at last reached our +haven."</p> + +<p>"I hope you will see some promise in it. We on the business side do not +look for pleasure alone."</p> + +<p>"It is wild, but marvellously fine. The islands with their frowning +rocks and glowing verdure, the points, and headlands, the great gulf and +the river are really majestic. And you—you are a man. Two years have +made a wondrous change. I wish our mother could see you. She has +frightful dreams of your being captured by Indians."</p> + +<p>He laughed at that.</p> + +<p>"Are the Indians very fierce here?" she asked timidly.</p> + +<p>"Some tribes are, the Hurons. And others are very easily managed if you +can keep fire-water away from them."</p> + +<p>"Fire"—wonderingly.</p> + +<p>"Rum or brandy. You will see strange sights. But you must not get +frightened. Now tell me about our parents."</p> + +<p>The Sieur was quite angry when he heard some boats had been up the +river, and bartered firearms and ammunition for peltries. It was their +desire to keep the white man's weapons away from the savages.</p> + +<p>Pontgrave had left a bark for the Governor, and Eustache joined them as +they went journeying on to Quebec. It was new and strange to the young +wife, whose lines so far had been cast in civilized places. The wide, +ever-changing river, the rough, unbroken country with here and there a +clearing, where parties of hunters had encamped and left their rude +stone fireplaces, the endless woods with high hills back of them, and +several groups of Indians with a wigwam for shelter, that interested her +very much. Braves were spread out on the carpet of dried leaves, playing +some kind of game with short knives and smoking leisurely. Squaws +gossiping and gesticulating with as much interest as their fairer +sisters, their attire new and strange, and papooses tumbling about. They +passed great tangles of wild grapes that scented the air, here and there +an island shimmering with the bloom of blueberries.</p> + +<p>Then the great cliff of Quebec came in sight. Latterly it had taken on +an aspect of decay that caused the Governor to frown. The courtyard was +littered with rubbish from a building that had actually fallen down, and +a new one was being erected. And though some of the houses were quite +comfortable within, the exterior was very unattractive, from the +different materials, like patches put on to add warmth in winter.</p> + +<p>The cannon rang out a salute, and the lilies of France floated in the +brilliant sunshine. Officers and men had formed a sort of cordon, and +from the gallery several ladies looked down and waved handkerchiefs. The +Héberts, with their son and daughter, a few other women, a little above +the peasant rank, had joined them and Madame Giffard, who still essayed +a rôle of delicacy.</p> + +<p>The Sieur took formal possession again in the name of the new Governor +General, the Duke of Montmorency. Then they repaired to the little +chapel, where the priest held a service of thanksgiving for their safe +arrival.</p> + +<p>The Récollets had chosen a site on the St. Charles river, some distance +from the post, and had begun the erection of a church and convent, for +headquarters. Madame Champlain was pleased to hear this and held quite a +lengthy talk with Père Jamay, who was glad to find the new wife took a +fervent interest in religion, for even among the French women he had not +awakened the influence he had hoped for, in his enthusiasm.</p> + +<p>Eustache began a tour of observation. Perched on a rock with a great +hemlock tree back of her, he saw a small human being that he was quite +sure was not an Indian girl. She was talking to something, and raised +her small forefinger to emphasize her words. What incantation was she +using?</p> + +<p>As he came nearer he saw it was a flock of pigeons. She had been feeding +them berries and grains of rye. They arched their glossy necks and cooed +in answer. He watched in amaze, drawing nearer. What sprite of the +forest was this?</p> + +<p>Did she feel the influence that invaded her solitude? She glanced up +with wide startled eyes at the intruder, and looked at first as if she +would fly.</p> + +<p>"Do not be afraid, I will not harm you," said a clear, reassuring voice. +"Are you charming the wild things of the forest? Your incantation was in +French—do they understand the language?"</p> + +<p>"They understand me."</p> + +<p>There was a curious dignity in her reply.</p> + +<p>"You are French, Mam'selle?"</p> + +<p>"I came from France a long while ago, so long that I do not remember."</p> + +<p>"Was it in another life? Are you human, or some forest nymph? For you +are not out of childhood."</p> + +<p>"I do not understand."</p> + +<p>"But you must belong to some one——"</p> + +<p>"No," she said proudly. "I have never really belonged to any one. M'sieu +Destournier is my good friend, and miladi took me when the Dubrays went +to the fur country. But she has been ill, and she does not like me as +she used."</p> + +<p>"But you must have a home——"</p> + +<p>"I live at the post, mostly with Wanamee. Some days my lady sends for +me. But I like out-of-doors, and the birds, and the blue sky, and the +voice of the falling waters that are always going on, and the great gray +rocks, where I find mossy little caves with red bloom like tiny +papooses, and the tall grasses that shake their heads so wisely, as if +they knew secrets they would never tell. And the birds—even some of the +little lizards with their bright black eyes. They are dainty, not like +the snakes that go twisting along."</p> + +<p>"Are you not afraid of them?"</p> + +<p>"I do not molest them," calmly.</p> + +<p>"You should have been down at the post. The Governor's wife has come."</p> + +<p>"Yes, I saw her. And I did not like her. But the Sieur was always kind +to me. He used to show me journeys on the maps, and the great lakes he +has seen. He has been all over the world, I believe."</p> + +<p>"Oh, no. But I think he would like to. Why do you not like Madame de +Champlain?"</p> + +<p>She studied him with a thoughtful gaze.</p> + +<p>"M'sieu Ralph told me when he went to France he was betrothed to a +pretty little French girl, and that some day he would bring her here to +be his wife. I was glad of the little girl. I like Marie Gaudrion, but +she has to care for the babies and—she does not understand why I love +the woods and the rocks. And I thought this other little <i>girl</i>——"</p> + +<p>She was so naïve that he smiled, but it was not the smile to hurt one.</p> + +<p>"She was a little girl then. But every one grows. Some day you will be a +woman."</p> + +<p>"No, I will not. I shall stay this way," and she patted the ground +decisively with her small foot, the moccasin being little more than a +sandal, and showed the high arch and shapely ankle that dimpled with the +motion.</p> + +<p>"I am afraid you cannot. But I think you will like Madame when you know +her. I am her brother, though I have not seen her for over two years."</p> + +<p>She studied him attentively. The birds began to grow restless and +circled about her as if to warn off the intruder. Then she suddenly +listened. There was a familiar step climbing the rock.</p> + +<p>M'sieu Destournier parted the hemlock branches.</p> + +<p>"I thought I should find you here. Why did you run away? Ah, M. Boullé," +but the older man frowned a little.</p> + +<p>"She left the company because my sister was grown up and not the little +girl she imagined. Is she a product of the forest? Her very ignorance is +charming."</p> + +<p>"I am not ignorant!" she returned. "I can read a page in Latin, and that +miladi cannot do."</p> + +<p>"She is a curious child," explained Destournier, "but a sweet and noble +nature, and innocent is the better word for it. The birds all know her, +and she has a tame doe that follows her about, except that it will not +venture inside the palisade. I'm not sure but she could charm a wolf."</p> + +<p>"The Loup Garou," laughed the younger man. "I think nothing would dare +harm her. But I should like my sister to see her. Oh, I am sure you will +like her, even if she is a woman grown."</p> + +<p>"Come," said Destournier, holding out his hand.</p> + +<p>The pigeons had circled wider and wider, and were now purplish shadows +against the serene blue. Rose sprang up and clasped Destournier's hand. +But she was silent as they took their way down.</p> + +<p>"Whatever bewitched my august brother-in-law about this place I cannot +see. Except that the new fort will sweep the river and render the town +impregnable from that side. It will be the key of the North. But +Montreal will be a finer town at much less cost."</p> + +<p>Rose was fain to refuse at the last moment, but M'sieu Ralph persuaded. +The few women of any note were gathered in the room miladi had first +occupied. Rose looked curiously at the daughter of M. Hébert—she was so +much taller than she used to be, and her hair was put up on her head +with a big comb.</p> + +<p>"Thou art a sweet child," said Madame de Champlain. "And whose daughter +may she be?"</p> + +<p>It was an awkward question. Destournier flushed unconsciously.</p> + +<p>"She is the Rose of Quebec," he made answer, with a smile. "Her parents +were dead before she came here."</p> + +<p>"Ah, I remember hearing the Governor speak of her, and learned that +there were so few real citizens in Quebec who were to grow up with the +town as their birthright. It is but a dreary-looking place, yet the wild +river, the great gulf, the magnificent forests give one a sense of +grandeur, yet loneliness. And my husband says it is the same hundreds of +miles to the westward; that there are lakes like oceans in themselves. +And such furs! All Paris is wild with the beauty of them. Yet they lie +around here as if of no value."</p> + +<p>"You would find that the traders appraise them pretty well," and he +raised his brows a trifle, while a rather amused expression played about +his eyes.</p> + +<p>"Is there always such a turmoil of trade?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, no. The traders scatter before mid-autumn. The cold weather sets in +and the snow and ice are our companions. The small streams freeze up. +But the Sieur has written of all these things in his book."</p> + +<p>He looked inquiringly at her for a touch of enthusiasm, but her sweet +face was placid.</p> + +<p>"Monsieur my husband desired that I should be educated in his religion +in the convent. We do not take up worldly matters, that is not +considered becoming to girls and women. We think more of the souls that +may be saved from perdition. The men go ahead to discover, the priests +come to teach these ignorant savages that they have souls that must be +returned to God, or suffer eternally."</p> + +<p>There spoke the devotee. Destournier wondered a little how the Sieur had +come to choose a dévote for a wife. For he was a born explorer, with a +body and a will of such strength that present defeat only spurred him +on. But where was there a woman to match him, to add to his courage and +resolve! Perhaps men did not need such women. Destournier was not an +enthusiast in religious matters. He had been here long enough to +understand the hold their almost childish superstitions had on the +Indians, their dull and brutish lack of any high motive, their brutal +and barbarous customs. They were ready to be baptized a dozen times over +just as they would use any of their own charms, or for the gain of some +trifle.</p> + +<p>Madame seemed to study the frank face of the little girl. How beautiful +her eyes were; her eager, intelligent, spirited face; the fine skin that +was neither light nor dark, and withstood sun and wind alike, and lost +none of its attractive tints. But she was so different from the little +girls sent to the nuns for training. They never looked up at you with +these wide-open eyes that seemed to question you, to weigh you.</p> + +<p>"There is no convent here where you can be taught?" addressing herself +to the child.</p> + +<p>"The fathers are building one. But it is only for the men. The women +cook and learn to dress deerskins until they are like velvet. They must +make the clothing, for not a great deal comes from France. And it would +only do for ladies like you and Madame Giffard."</p> + +<p>"But there must be some education, some training, some prayers," and the +lady looked rather helpless.</p> + +<p>She was very sweet and beautiful in her soft silken dress of gray, that +was flowered in the same color, and trimmed with fur and velvet. From +her belt depended a chain of carved ivory beads and a crucifix, from +another chain a small oval looking-glass in a silver frame. Her flaring +collar of lace and the stomacher were worked in pearls. Many Parisians +had them sewn with jewels.</p> + +<p>"I can read French very well," said Rose, after a pause. "And some +Latin."</p> + +<p>"Oh, the prayers, and some of the old hymns——"</p> + +<p>"No, it isn't prayers exactly—except to their gods. There are so many +gods. Jove was the great one."</p> + +<p>"Oh, my child, this is heresy. There is but one God and the Holy Virgin, +and the saints to whom you can make invocation."</p> + +<p>"Well, then I think you have a number of gods. Do you pray to them all? +And what do you pray for?"</p> + +<p>"For the wicked world to be converted to God, for them to love Him, and +serve Him."</p> + +<p>"And how do they serve Him?" inquired the child. "If He is the great God +Father Jamay teaches He can do everything, have everything. It is all +His. Then why does He not keep people well, so they can work, and not +blight the crops with fierce storms. Sometimes great fields of maize are +swept down. And the little children die; the Indians kill each other, +and at times the white men who serve them."</p> + +<p>"Oh, child, you do not understand. There must be convents in this new +world for the training of girls. They must be taught to pray that God's +will may be done, not their own."</p> + +<p>"How would I know it was God's will?" asked the irreverent child, +decisively, yet with a certain sweetness.</p> + +<p>"The good Father would tell you."</p> + +<p>"How would he know?"</p> + +<p>"He lives a holy life in communion with God."</p> + +<p>"What is the convent like?" suddenly changing her thoughts.</p> + +<p>"It is a large house full of little ones, the sisters' cells, the +novices' cells——"</p> + +<p>"There are some at the post. They put criminals in them. They are filthy +and dark," with a kind of protesting vehemence.</p> + +<p>"These are clean, because they are whitewashed, and you scrub the floor +twice a week. There is a little pallet on which you sleep, a +<i>prie-dieu</i>——"</p> + +<p>"What is that?" interrupted the child.</p> + +<p>"A little altar, with a stone step on which you kneel. And a crucifix at +the top, a book of prayer and invocation. Many of the sisters pray an +hour at midnight. All pray an hour in the morning, then breakfast and +the chapel for another hour, with prayers and singing. After that the +classes. The little girls are taught the catechism and manners, if they +are to go out in the world, sewing and embroidery. At noon prayers again +and a little lunch, then work out of doors for an hour, and running +about for exercise, catechising again, singing, supper and a chapel +hour, and then to bed. But the nuns spend the evening in prayer, so do +the devout."</p> + +<p>"Madame, I shall never go in a convent, if the Fathers build one for +girls. I like the big out-of-doors. And if God made the world He made it +for some purpose, that people should go out and enjoy it. I like the +wilderness, the great blue sky, the sun and the stars at night, the +trees and the river, and the birds and the deer and the beautiful wild +geese, as they sail in great flocks. If I was shut up in a cell I should +beat my head against the stones until it was a jelly, and then I should +be dead."</p> + +<p>Madame de Champlain looked at the child in amaze. In her decorous life +she had known nothing like it.</p> + +<p>"And I wish there were no women. I do not like women any more. Men are +better because they live out of doors and do not pray so much. Except +the priests. And they are dirty."</p> + +<p>Then she turned away and went out on the gallery, with a curiously +swelling heart. Oh, why was not Marie Gaudrion different? What made +people so unlike. If there was some one——</p> + +<p>"Ha, little maid, where are you running to so fast?" exclaimed a +laughing voice. "Have you seen my sister yet?"</p> + +<p>Eustache Boullé caught her arm, but she shook him off, and stood up +squarely, facing him. What vigor and resolution there was in her small +bewitching face.</p> + +<p>"Hi, hi! thou art a plucky little <i>fille</i>, ready for a quarrel by the +looks of thy flashing eyes. What have I done to thee, that thou shouldst +shake me off as a viper?"</p> + +<p>"Nothing! I am not to be handled roughly. I am going my way, and I think +it will not interfere with thine."</p> + +<p>A pleasant smile crossed his face which made him really attractive, and +half disarmed her fierceness.</p> + +<p>"My way is set in no special lines until I return to Tadoussac. Hast +thou seen my sister?"</p> + +<p>She nodded.</p> + +<p>"Every one loves her. She is as good as she is beautiful. And she will +charm thee," in a triumphant tone, gathering that the interview had not +already done this.</p> + +<p>"I am not to be charmed in that fashion. Yes, she is beautiful, but she +would like me to be put in a convent. And I would throw myself in the +river first."</p> + +<p>"There are no convents, little one. And but few people to put into them. +In a new country it is best that they marry and have families. When +there are too many women then convents play a useful part."</p> + +<p>"Let me pass," she cried disdainfully, but not trying to push aside.</p> + +<p>"Tell me where you go!"</p> + +<p>"To Mère Gaudrion's to see that soft-headed Marie. I wish she had some +ideas, but she is good and cheerful, and does as she is told."</p> + +<p>"You are not very complimentary to your friend."</p> + +<p>"But if I said she had a bad temper, and told what was not true, and +slapped her little brothers and sisters, that would be a falsehood. And +if I said she understood the song of the birds and the sough of the wind +among the trees, and the running, tumbling little streams that are +always saying 'oh! let me get to the gulf as soon as possible, for I +want to see what a great ocean is like,' it would not be true either. I +like Marie," calmly.</p> + +<p>"Thou art a curious little casuist. I am glad you like her. It shows +that you are human. There are strange creatures in the woods and wilds +of this new world."</p> + +<p>"There is the Loup Garou, but I have not seen him. He gets changed from +a man to a fierce dog, and if you kill the dog, the man dies. There is +the Windigo, and the old medicine woman can call strange things out of a +sick person who has been bewitched, and then he gets well. But M. +Destournier laughs at these stories."</p> + +<p>The young man had been backing slowly toward the steps and she had +followed without taking note.</p> + +<p>Now he said—"Let me help you down."</p> + +<p>"I am not lame, M'sieu, neither am I blind."</p> + +<p>"Will you take me to see Marie Gaudrion?"</p> + +<p>"You would laugh at her, I see it in your eyes."</p> + +<p>"Are my eyes such telltales?"</p> + +<p>He had not the placid fairness of his sister, and his chestnut hair +curled about his temples. His cheeks were red enough for a girl.</p> + +<p>"Why should you want to see her?"</p> + +<p>"I want to see all there is in Quebec. I want to know how the colony +progresses. I may put it in a book."</p> + +<p>"Like the Governor. But you could not make maps out of people," with an +air of triumph.</p> + +<p>"I'm not so sure. See here."</p> + +<p>He drew from his pocket a roll and held one of the leaves before her +eyes.</p> + +<p>"Oh, that is old Temekwisa sitting out by the hut. And, M'sieu, he looks +half drunken, as he nearly always is. And that is Jacques Barbeau +breaking stone. Why, it is wonderful. And who else have you?"</p> + +<p>There were several Indians in a powwow around the fire, there was a +woman with a papoose on her back, and a few partly done.</p> + +<p>"And the Sieur—and your sister?" eagerly.</p> + +<p>"I have tried dozens of times and cannot please myself. The Indians have +about the same salient points, and that lack of expression when they are +tranquil. They are easy to do. And I can sometimes catch the fierce +anger. At home I would have a teacher. Here I have to go by myself, try, +and tear up. Then I am busy with many other things."</p> + +<p>Her resentment had mostly subsided. His gift, if it could be called +that, fascinated her. She had reproduced wonderful pictures in her +brain, but to do them with her hand would be marvellous, like the Sieur +writing his books.</p> + +<p>They had reached the garden of the Gaudrions. Pierre was employed +regularly now and was studying the plans of the new fort. Marie was +seated on the grass, cutting leather fringe for garments and leggings. +You could use up otherwise useless bits that way. The Mère was farther +down pulling weeds from the carrot bed, and directing the labors of two +children, at whom she shook a switch now and then. Marie had a baby on +each side of her, tumbling about in the grass.</p> + +<p>She looked up and nodded, while a heavy sort of smile settled about her +lips, the upper one protruding a little, on account of two prominent +teeth. Eustache had seen the peasant type at home, the low forehead, the +deep-set eyes, the short nose, flattened at the base, the wide mouth and +rather broad, unmeaning countenance, the type of women who bear burthens +without complaining and do not resent when they are beaten. Marie had an +abundance of blue-black hair, a clear skin, and a soft color in her +cheeks.</p> + +<p>Boullé glanced from one to the other, the lithe figure, the spirited +face, the eyes that could flash and soften and sparkle with mirth almost +in a minute, it seemed. What a distance lay between them.</p> + +<p>"Marie, this is"—then Rose paused and flushed, and glanced at her +unbidden companion.</p> + +<p>"I am Eustache Boullé and my sister is the wife of the Governor de +Champlain. And though I have been up and down the river I have never +really visited Quebec before."</p> + +<p>Marie nodded and went on cutting fringe.</p> + +<p>"And he has done pictures—Temekwisa, that you would know in a minute. +He did them with a pencil. Show them to her," she ordered, in a pretty +peremptory manner, as with a graceful gesture of the hand she invited +him to be seated on the grass, deftly rolling one baby over, who stared +an instant, and then fell to sucking his fist.</p> + +<p>Marie's heavy face lighted up with a kind of cheerful surprise.</p> + +<p>"Why did you not go up and see them come in? And after the service of +thanks, almost everybody went to see our dear Sieur's wife. She is +beautiful in the face and wears a silken gown, and a little cap so fine +you can see her hair through it. And she has small hands that look like +snow, but not many rings, like Madame Giffard."</p> + +<p>"<i>Ma mère</i> went to the prayers, but we could not both go. I saw the line +of boats and heard the salute. And your sister will live here with the +Governor?"</p> + +<p>Eustache wanted to laugh, but commanded his countenance.</p> + +<p>"Yes, though 'tis a dreary place to live in after gay France. I long to +go back."</p> + +<p>"They are to build a new fort. My father will work on it, and my +brother, Pierre. And he wonders that you do not come oftener, Rose."</p> + +<p>"There has not been a moonlight in a long while. I cannot come in the +dark. And now he wants his own way in all the plans and I like mine. He +has grown so big he is not amusing any more."</p> + +<p>"But he likes you just as well," the girl said naïvely.</p> + +<p>Eustache glanced. Rose did not change color at this frank admission.</p> + +<p>Then the gun boomed out to announce the day's work for the government +was over.</p> + +<p>Rose sprang up. "It will soon be supper time," she said.</p> + +<p>"Stay and have it with us. There are some cold roasted pigeons, with +spiced gravy turned over them. You shall have a whole one."</p> + +<p>"You are very good, Marie, but there are so many men about who have been +drinking too much, that M. Destournier would read me a long lecture."</p> + +<p>"But Pierre would walk up with thee."</p> + +<p>Eustache had gathered up his pictures. They had only been an excuse to +prolong his interview with Rose.</p> + +<p>"I will see that no harm comes to your friend. Adieu, Mam'selle," and he +bowed politely, at which Marie only stared.</p> + +<p>"We are very good friends, are we not?" as he was parting with the +pretty child.</p> + +<p>"But I might not like you to-morrow," archly.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_IX" id="CHAPTER_IX"></a>CHAPTER IX</h2> + +<h3>ABOUT MARRIAGES</h3> + + +<p>The new fort was begun on the summit of the cliff, almost two hundred +feet above the water, and the guns would command it up and down. A good +deal of stone was used. New houses were being reared in a much better +fashion, the crevices thickly plastered with mortar, the chimneys of +stone, with generous fireplaces. Destournier had repaired his small +settlement and added some ground to the cultivated area.</p> + +<p>"The only way to colonize," declared the Sieur. "If we could rouse the +Indians into taking more interest. Civilization does not seem to attract +them, though the women make good wives, and they are a scarce commodity. +The English and the Dutch are wiser in this respect than we. When +children are born on the soil and marry with their neighbors, one may be +sure of good citizens."</p> + +<p>The church, too, was progressing, and was called Notre Dame des Anges. +Madame de Champlain was intensely religious, and used her best efforts +to further the plans. She took a great interest in the Indian children, +and when she found many of the women were not really married to the +laborers around the fort, insisted that Père Jamay should perform the +ceremony. The women were quite delighted with this, considering it a +great mark of respect.</p> + +<p>She began to study the Algonquin language, which was the most prevalent. +She had brought three serving women from France, but they were not +heroic enough to be enamored of the hardships. There was so little +companionship for her that but for her religion she would have had a +lonely time. The Héberts were plain people and hardly felt themselves on +a par with the wife of their Governor, though Champlain himself, with +more democratic tastes, used often to drop in to consult the farmer and +take a meal.</p> + +<p>Madame Giffard was not really religious. She was fond of pleasure and +games of cards, and really hated any self-denial, or long prayers, +though she went to Mass now and then. But between her and the earnest, +devoted Hélène there was no sympathy.</p> + +<p>The new house was ready by October. Hélène would fain have had it made +less comfortable, but this the Governor would not permit. It would be +hung with furs when the bitter weather came in.</p> + +<p>No one paid much attention to Rose, who came and went, and wandered +about at her own sweet will. Eustache Boullé was fairly fascinated with +her, and followed her like a shadow when he was not in attendance on his +sister. He persuaded her to sit for a picture, but it was quite +impossible to catch her elusive beauty. She would turn her head, change +the curve of her pretty lips, allow her eyes to rove about and then let +the lids drop decorously in a fashion he called a nun's face; but it was +adorable.</p> + +<p>"I shall not be a nun," she would declare vehemently.</p> + +<p>"No, Mam'selle, thou art the kind to dance on a man's heart and make him +most happy and most wretched. No nun's coif for that sunny, tangled mop +of thine."</p> + +<p>He would fain have lingered through the winter, but a peremptory message +came for him.</p> + +<p>"I shall be here another summer and thou wilt be older, and understand +better what life is like."</p> + +<p>"It is good enough and pleasant enough now," she answered perversely.</p> + +<p>"I wonder—if thou wilt miss me?"</p> + +<p>"Why, yes, silly! The splendid canoeing and the races we run, and I may +be big enough next summer to go to Lachine. I would like to rush through +the rapids that Antoine the sailor tells about, where you feel as if you +were going down to the centre of the world."</p> + +<p>"No woman would dare. It would not be safe," he objected.</p> + +<p>"Men are not always lost, only a few clumsy ones. And I can swim with +the best of them."</p> + +<p>"M. Destournier will not let you go."</p> + +<p>"He is not my father. I belong just to myself, and I will do as I +like."</p> + +<p>She stamped her foot on the ground, but she laughed as well. He was not +nineteen yet, but a man would be able to manage her.</p> + +<p>She did miss him when he was gone. And it seemed as if Marie grew more +stupid and cared less for her. And that lout of a Jules Personeau would +sit by her on the grass, or help her pick berries or grapes and open +them skilfully, take out the seeds or the pits of plums, and place them +on the flat rocks to dry. He never seemed to talk. And Rose knew that M. +Destournier scolded because he was not breaking stone.</p> + +<p>He was building a new house himself, and helping the Sieur plan out the +path from the fort up above to the settlement down below. They did not +dream that one day it would be the upper and the lower town, and that on +the plain would be fought one of the historic battles of the world, +where two of the bravest of men would give up their lives, and the +lilies of France go down for the last time. Quebec was beginning to look +quite a town.</p> + +<p>Destournier's house commanded his settlement, which was more strongly +fortified with a higher palisade, over which curious thorn vines were +growing for protection. He had a fine wheat field, and some tobacco. Of +Indian corn a great waving regiment planted only two rows thick so as to +give no chance for skulking marauders.</p> + +<p>The house of M. Giffard was falling into decay. Miladi had sent to +France early in the season for many new stuffs and trinkets, and the +settlement of some affairs, instead of turning all over to Destournier. +The goods had come at an exorbitant price, but there had been a great +tangle in money matters, and at his death his concessions had passed +into other hands.</p> + +<p>"They always manage to rob a woman," he thought grimly.</p> + +<p>"I supposed you were to leave things in my hands," he said, a little +upbraidingly, to her.</p> + +<p>"I make you so much trouble. And you have so much to do for the Governor +and your settlement, and I am so weak and helpless. I have never been +strong since that dreadful night. I miss all the care and love. Oh, if +you were a woman you would know how heart-breaking it was. I wish I were +dead! I wish I were dead!"</p> + +<p>"And you do not care to go back to France?"</p> + +<p>"Do not torment me with that question. I should die on the voyage. And +to be there without friends would be horrible. I have no taste for a +convent."</p> + +<p>A great many times the vague plan had entered his mind as a sort of +duty. Now he would put it into execution.</p> + +<p>"Become my wife," he said. He leaned over and took her slim hands in his +and glanced earnestly into her eyes, and saw there were fine wrinkles +setting about them. What did it matter? She needed protection and care, +and there was no woman here that he could love as the romances +described. He was too busy a man, too practical.</p> + +<p>She let her head drop on his broad breast. She had dreamed of this and +used many little arts, but had never been sure of their effect. There +were the years between, but she needed his strength and devotion more +than a younger woman.</p> + +<p>"Oh, ought I be so happy again?" she murmured. "There is so much that is +strong and generous to you that a woman could rest content in giving her +whole life to you, her best love."</p> + +<p>He wished she had not said that. He would have been content that her +best love should lie softly in the grave, like an atmosphere around the +sleeping body of Laurent Giffard, whom he had admired very much, and who +had loved his wife with the fervor of youth. He drew a long breath of +pity for the man. It seemed as if he was taking something away from him.</p> + +<p>"Is it true?" she asked, in a long silence.</p> + +<p>"That I shall care for you, yes. That you will be my wife." Then he +kissed her tenderly.</p> + +<p>"I am so happy. Oh, you cannot think how sad I have been for months, +with no one to care for me," and her voice was exquisitely pathetic.</p> + +<p>"I have cared for you all this while," he said. "You were like a sister +to whom I owed a duty."</p> + +<p>"Duty is not quite love," in her soft murmurous tone, touching his cheek +caressingly.</p> + +<p>He wondered a little what love was like, if this tranquil half pity was +all. Madame de Champlain was like a child to her husband, the women +emigrants thus far had not been of a high order, and the marriages had +been mostly for the sake of a helpmeet and possible children. The +Governor had really encouraged the mixed marriages, where the Indian +women were of the better sort. A few of them were taking kindly to +religion, and had many really useful arts in the way of making garments +out of dressed deerskins. He chose rather some of those who had been +taken prisoners and had no real affiliation with the tribes. They felt +honored by marrying a white man, and now Père Jamay performed a legal +and religious ceremony, so that no man could put away his wife.</p> + +<p>"Oh, what do you think!" and Rose sprang eagerly to Destournier, +catching him by the arm with both hands and giving a swing, as he was +pacing the gallery, deep in his new plans. "It is so full of amusement +for me. And I can't understand how she can do it. Jules Personeau is +such a stupid! And that great shock of hair that keeps tumbling into his +eyes. It is such a queer color, almost as if much sitting in the sun was +turning it red."</p> + +<p>"What about Jules? He is very absent-minded nowadays, and does not +attend to his work. The summer will soon be gone."</p> + +<p>"Oh, it isn't so much about Jules. Marie Gaudrion is going to marry +him."</p> + +<p>"Why, then I think it is half about Jules," laughing down into the eager +face. "A girl can't be married alone."</p> + +<p>"Well, I suppose you would have to go and live with some one," in a +puzzled tone. "But Jules has such rough, dirty hands. He caught me a few +days ago and patted my cheek, and I slapped him. I will not have rough +hands touch me! And Marie laughs. She is only thirteen, but she says she +is a woman. I don't want to be a woman. I won't have a husband, and be +taken off to a hut, and cook, and work in the garden. M'sieu, I should +fly to the woods and hide."</p> + +<p>"And the poor fellow would get no dinner." He laughed at her vehemence. +"I suppose Jules is in love and we must excuse his absent-mindedness. +Will it be soon?"</p> + +<p>"Why, yes, Jules is getting his house ready. Barbe is to help her mother +and care for the babies. I like Marie some," nodding indecisively, "but +I wish there was a girl who liked to run and play, and climb trees, and +talk to the birds, and oh, do a hundred things, all different from the +other."</p> + +<p>She gave a little hop and a laugh of exquisite freedom. She was full of +restless grace, as the birds themselves; her blooming cheeks and shining +eyes, the way she carried her head, the face breaking into dimples with +every motion, the mouth tempting in its rosy sweetness. He bent and +kissed her. She held him a moment by the shoulders.</p> + +<p>"Oh, I like you, I like you," she cried. "You are above them all, you +have something,"—her pretty brow knit,—"yet you are better than the +Sieur even, the best of them all. If you will wait a long while I might +marry you, but no other, no other," shaking her curls.</p> + +<p>He laughed, yet it was not from her naïve confession. She did not +realize what she was saying.</p> + +<p>"How old am I?" insistently.</p> + +<p>"About ten, I think."</p> + +<p>"Ten. And ten more would be twenty. Is that old?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, no."</p> + +<p>"And Madame de Champlain was twelve when she was married in France. +Well, I suppose that is right. And—two years more! No, M'sieu, I shall +wait until I am twenty. Maybe I shall not want to climb trees then, nor +scramble over rocks, nor chase the squirrels, and pelt them with nuts."</p> + +<p>"Thou wilt be a decorous little lady then."</p> + +<p>"That is a long way off."</p> + +<p>"Yes. And Wanamee is calling thee."</p> + +<p>"The priest says we must call her Jolette, that is her Christian name. +Must I have another name? Well, I will not. Good-night," and away she +ran.</p> + +<p>He fell into rumination again. What would she say to his marriage? He +had a misgiving she would take it rather hardly. She had not been so +rapturously in love with miladi of late, but since the death of her +husband, the rather noisy glee of the child had annoyed her. She would +be better now. Of course they would keep the child, she had no other +friends, nor home.</p> + +<p>Marie Gaudrion's marriage was quite a mystery to Rose. That any one +could love such an uncouth fellow as Jules, that a girl could leave the +comfortable home and pretty garden, for now the fruit trees had grown +and were full of fragrant bloom in the early season, and the ripening +fruit later on, and go to that dismal little place under the rocks.</p> + +<p>"You see it will be much warmer," Jules had said. It was built against +the rock. "This will shield us from the north wind and the heavy snows, +and another year we will take a place further down in the allotment. I +will lay in a store of things, and we will be as happy as the squirrels +in their hollow tree."</p> + +<p>Marie and her mother cleared it up a bit. The floor was of rough planks +filled in with mortar, and skins were laid down for carpet. There was +but one window looking toward the south, and the door was on that side +also. Then a few steps and a sort of plateau. Inside there was a box +bunk, where the household goods were piled away inside. A few shelves +with dishes, a table, and several stools completed the furnishing.</p> + +<p>So on Sunday they went up to the unfinished chapel on the St. Charles, +where a Mass was said, and the young couple were united. It was a lovely +day, and they rowed down in the canoes to the Gaudrions, where a feast +was given and healths drank to the newly-wedded couple, in which they +were wished much happiness and many children. The table was spread +luxuriously; the Mère had been two days cooking. Roasts and broils, game +and fish, and many of the early fruits in preserve and just ripened. +Sunday was a day for gorging in this primitive land, while summer +lasted. No one need starve then.</p> + +<p>Afterward the young couple were escorted home.</p> + +<p>Rose sat out in the moonlight thinking of the strangeness of it all. How +could Marie like it? Mère Gaudrion had said, "Jules will make a good +husband, if he is clumsy and not handsome. He will never beat Marie, and +now he will settle to work again, and make a good living, since courting +days are over."</p> + +<p>The child wondered what courting days were. Several strange ideas came +into her mind. It was as if it grew suddenly and there were things in +the world she would like to know about. Perhaps M. Ralph could tell her. +Miladi said she was tiresome when she asked questions, and there was +always a headache. Would her head ache when she was grown up? And she +stood in curious awe of Madame de Champlain, who would only talk of the +saints and martyrs, and repeat prayers. She was very attractive to the +children, and gathered them about her, letting them gaze in her little +mirror she carried at her belt, as was the fashion in France. They liked +the touch of her soft hand on their heads, they were sometimes allowed +to press their tawny cheeks against it. Then she would try to instruct +them in the Catechism. They learned the sentences by rote, in an eager +sort of way, but she could see the real understanding was lacking.</p> + +<p>"It seems an almost hopeless task," she said one day to Père Jamay. "And +though the little girls in the convent seemed obtuse, they did +understand what devotion was. These children would worship me. When I +talk of the blessed Virgin they are fain to press their faces to the hem +of my gown, taking it to mean that I am our dear Lady of Sorrows. +Neither do they comprehend penance, they suppose they have offended me +personally."</p> + +<p>"'Tis a curious race that God has allowed to sink to the lowest ebb, +that His laborers should work the harder in the vineyard. I do not +despair. There will come a glorious day when every soul shall bow the +knee to our blessed Lord. The men seem incapable of any true discernment +of holy things. But we must not weary in well-doing. Think what a +glorious thing it would be to convert this nation to the true faith."</p> + +<p>The lady sighed. Many a day she went to her <i>prie-dieu</i> not seven times, +but twice that, to pray for their conversion.</p> + +<p>"We must win the children. They will grow up with some knowledge and +cast aside their superstitions. We must be filled with holy zeal and +never weary doing our Master's will."</p> + +<p>She had tried to win Rose, as well as some of the more intelligent +half-breeds. But prayers were wearisome to the child. And why should you +ask the same thing over and over again? Even M. Destournier, she had +noticed, did not like to be importuned, and why then the great God, who +had all the world to care for, and sent to His creatures what He thought +best.</p> + +<p>The child looked out on the wide vault so full of stars, and her heart +was thrilled with the great mystery. What was the beautiful world beyond +that was called heaven? What did they know who had never seen it? The +splendor of the great white moon—moving majestically through the +blue—touched her with a sort of ecstasy. Was it another world? And how +tenderly it seemed to touch the tree tops, silvering the branches and +deepening the shadows until they were haunts of darkness. Did not other +gods dwell there, as those old people in the islands on the other side +of the world dreamed? Over the river hung trailing clouds of misty +sheen, there was a musical lapping of the waves, the curious vibration +of countless insects—now the shrill cry of some night bird, then such +softness again that the world seemed asleep.</p> + +<p>"<i>Ma fille, ma fille</i>," and the half-inquiring accent of Wanamee's voice +fell on her ear.</p> + +<p>"I am here. It is so beautiful. Wanamee, did you ever feel that you must +float away to some other world and learn things that seem to hover all +about you, and yet you cannot grasp?"</p> + +<p>"You cannot, child, until you are admitted to the company of the saints. +And this life is very comfortable, to some at least. Thou hast no +trouble, little one. But it is time for the bed."</p> + +<p>"Why can I not sleep out here? The Indians sleep under the tree. So has +M'sieu Ralph, and the Governor. Oh, I should like to and have just that +great blue sky and the stars over me."</p> + +<p>"They would not show under the tree branches. And there are wolves and +strollers that it would not be safe to see at this time of the year, +when there are so many drunken traders. So come in, child."</p> + +<p>She rose slowly. A little room in the end of the Giffard house was +devoted to her and Wanamee. Two small pallets raised a little above the +floor, a stand with a crucifix, that the Governor's wife insisted was +necessary, a box, in which winter bedding was stored, and that served +for a seat, completed the simple furniture.</p> + +<p>Rose knelt before the stand. There were two or three Latin prayers she +often said aloud, but to-night her lips did not move. This figure on the +cross filled her with a kind of horror just now.</p> + +<p>"Mam'selle," said the waiting Wanamee.</p> + +<p>The child rose. "You must pray for yourself to-night," she said in a +soft voice, throwing her pliant body on the pallet. "I do not understand +anything about God any more. I do not see why He should send His Son to +die for the thousands of people who do not care for Him. The great +Manitou of the Indians did not do it."</p> + +<p>"<i>Ma fille</i>, ask the priest. But then is it necessary to ask God when we +have only to believe?"</p> + +<p>"I am afraid I don't even believe," was the hesitating reply.</p> + +<p>"Surely thou art wicked. There will be penance for thee."</p> + +<p>"I will not do penance either. You are cruel if you torture dumb +animals, and it is said they have not the keen feeling of humans. I am +not sure. But where one thinks of the pain or punishment he is bearing +it is more bitter. And what right has another to inflict it upon you?"</p> + +<p>Wanamee was silent. She would ask the good priest. But ah, could she +have her darling punished?</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_X" id="CHAPTER_X"></a>CHAPTER X</h2> + +<h3>MILADI AND M. DESTOURNIER</h3> + + +<p>"But what are you to do with this nice house? Why, the Governor's is +hardly better. Will you live here and not at the post? And how pretty +the furnishings are?"</p> + +<p>Rose's face was wreathed in smiles, and the dimples played hide-and-seek +in a most entrancing manner.</p> + +<p>"Yes, I am to live here. And you, and Wanamee, and Nugava, and——"</p> + +<p>She clapped her hands and jumped up and down, she pirouetted around with +grace and lightness that would have enchanted the King of La Belle +France. Where did she get this wonderful harmony of movement. His eyes +followed her in admiration. She paused. "And what part is to be given to +me?"</p> + +<p>"This. And Wanamee will have the room between, to be within call."</p> + +<p>His cheek flushed. How was he to get his secret told?</p> + +<p>"And this will be yours, M'sieu. I know it on account of the books. And +I can come in here and you shall teach me to read some of the new +things. I have been very naughty and lazy, have I not. But in the +winter one cannot roam about. Oh, how delightful it will be!"</p> + +<p>She looked up out of such clear, happy eyes. How could he destroy her +delight—he knew it would.</p> + +<p>"There will be some one else here," he began.</p> + +<p>"Not Père Jamay. He is with Madame a good deal. I do not like his sour +face when he frowns upon me. And—oh, you will not have me sent to +France and put in a convent. I would kill myself first."</p> + +<p>"No, no. It is not the priest. I am not over in love with him myself. It +is some one sweet and pretty, and that you love——"</p> + +<p>"That I love"—wonderingly.</p> + +<p>He took both her hands in his.</p> + +<p>"Rose," with tender gravity, "I am going to marry Madame Giffard."</p> + +<p>She stiffened up and looked straight at him, the glow on her cheek +fading to marble paleness.</p> + +<p>"<i>Petite</i>, you did love her dearly. You will love her again for my sake. +No, you shall not go away in this angry mood. Do you not wish me to be +happy?"</p> + +<p>"Miladi belongs to her husband, who is dead. When she goes to heaven he +will be there, and you two—well, one must give up. Do you not remember +that Osaka murdered his wife because she went away from him and married +another brave?"</p> + +<p>He was amused at her passion.</p> + +<p>"I will give her up then. It is only for this life. And she needs some +one to care for her. Why are you so opposed to it, when you used to +love her? She will be like a mother to you."</p> + +<p>"I do not want any mother," proudly. "And she does not love me now. Oh, +one can feel it just like a blast of unfriendly wind. And when she has +you she will not care for any one else."</p> + +<p>"But I can care for you both. You know you belong to me. And sometime, +when new people cross the ocean, some brave, fine young fellow will love +you and want to marry you."</p> + +<p>"I will not marry him."</p> + +<p>"Oh, my little girl, be reasonable. We shall all be happy here together. +And you will grow up to womanhood and learn many things that will please +you and be of great service. And will go to France some day——"</p> + +<p>"I will not go anywhere with her. Unclasp my hands. I do not belong to +you any more, to no one, I am——"</p> + +<p>She burst into a passion of weeping. In spite of her struggles he +clasped her to his heart and kissed the throbbing temples, that seemed +as if they would burst.</p> + +<p>"Oh, Rose, my little one, whom I love as a child, and always shall love, +listen to me and be comforted."</p> + +<p>"She will not let you love me. She will want me to be sent to France and +be put in a convent. Father Jamay said that was what I needed. Oh, you +will see!"</p> + +<p>The sobs seemed to rend her small body. He could feel the beating of her +heart and all his soul was moved with pity, although he knew her grief +was unreasonable.</p> + +<p>"And you are willing to make me very unhappy, to spoil all my pleasure +in the new home. Oh, my child, I hardly thought that of you."</p> + +<p>She made another struggle and freed herself. She stood erect, it seemed +as if she had grown inches. "You may be happy with her," she said, with +a dignity that would have been amusing if it had not been sad, and then +she dashed out of the room.</p> + +<p>He sat down and leaned his elbow on the table, his head on his hand. He +had gathered from several things miladi had suggested, that she was +rather indifferent to the child, but he did not surmise that Rose had +felt and understood it. No one had a better right than he, since in all +probability her parentage would remain unknown. He would not relinquish +her. She should be a daughter to him. He realized that he had a curious +love for the child, that she had attracted him from the first. In the +years to come her beauty and winsomeness would captivate a husband, with +the dowry he could give her.</p> + +<p>For several days he saw very little of her. He was busy and miladi was +exigent. Rose wandered about, sometimes to the settlement, watching the +busy women dressing skins, making garments, cutting fringes, and +embroidering wampum for the braves. The tawny children played about, the +small papooses, strapped in their cases of bark, blinked and +occasionally uttered wearisome cries. Or she rowed about in her canoe, +often with Pani, for the river current was rather treacherous. Then she +scudded through the woods like a deer, winding in and out of the stately +columns that were here silver-gray, there white; beech and birch, dark +hemlocks, that not having space to branch out, grew up tall with a head +almost like a palm. Insects hummed and shrilled, or whirred like a tiny +orchestra. Now and then a bird flung out a strain of melody, squirrels +ran about, and the doe came and put its nose in her hand. She had tied a +strip of skin, colored red, about its neck, that no one might shoot it. +The rich, deep moss cushioned the ground. Occasionally an acorn fell. +She would sit here in dreamy content by the hours, often just enjoying, +sometimes puzzling her brains over all the mysteries that in the years +to come education would solve. So few could read, indeed books were only +for the few.</p> + +<p>Then she ran up and down the rocks, hid in the nooks, came out again in +dryad fashion. She had been wont to laugh and make echoes ring about, +but now her heart, in spite of all she could do, was not light enough +for that. Wanamee was sore troubled by her reticence, for she was too +proud to make any complaint. Indeed, she did not know what to complain +of. In her childish heart everything was vague, she could not reason, +she could only feel that something had been snatched out of her life and +set in another's. She would henceforth be lonely.</p> + +<p>"Miladi wants to see you," said Wanamee one morning. "She wonders why +you do not run in as you used. And she has something joyful to tell +you."</p> + +<p>Rose shut her lips tightly together and stamped on the floor.</p> + +<p>"Oh, <i>ma petite</i>, you have guessed then! Or, perhaps M'sieu told you. +Miladi is to marry him, and they are to go to the nice new house he is +building. They are to take you and me and Pani. And he will have the two +Montagnais, who have been his good servants. We shall get out of this +old, tumble-down post station, and be near the Héberts. Then M'sieu is +getting such a nice big wheat field and garden."</p> + +<p>Rose was drawing long breaths. She would not cry or utter a complaint. +Wanamee approached her, holding out both hands.</p> + +<p>"Do not touch me," she entreated, in a passionate tone. "Do not say +anything more. When I am a little tranquil I will go and see her. I know +what she wants me to say—that I am glad. There is something just here +that keeps me from being glad," and she pressed her hands tightly over +her heart. "I do not know what it is."</p> + +<p>"Surely you are not jealous of miladi? They are grown-up people. And +M'sieu told her yesterday—I heard them talking—that you were to be a +child to them, that they would both love you. Miladi has been irritable, +and not so gay as she used, but she is better now, and will soon be her +olden self. She was very nice and cheerful this morning, and laughed +with the joy of other days. Oh, child, do not disturb it by any +tempers."</p> + +<p>Wanamee's eyes were soft and entreating.</p> + +<p>"Oh, you need not fear," the child exclaimed, proudly. "Now I will go."</p> + +<p>She tapped at miladi's door, and a very sweet voice said—"Come, little +stranger."</p> + +<p>She opened it. Miladi was sitting by the small casement window, in one +of her pretty silken gowns, long laid by. There was a dainty rose flush +on her cheek, but the hand she held out was much thinner than of yore, +when in the place of knuckles there were dimples.</p> + +<p>"Where have you been all these days when I have not seen you, little +maid? Come here and kiss me, and wish me joy, as they do in old France. +For I am going to take your favorite as a husband, and you are to be our +little daughter."</p> + +<p>Rose lifted up her face. The kiss was on her forehead.</p> + +<p>"Now, kiss me," and she touched the small shoulder with something like a +shake, as she offered her cheek.</p> + +<p>It was a cold little kiss from lips that hardly moved. Miladi laughed +with a pretty, amused ripple.</p> + +<p>"In good sooth," she said merrily, "some lover will teach you to kiss +presently. Thou art growing very pretty, Rose, and when some of the +gallants come over from Paris, they will esteem the foundling of Quebec +the heroine of romance."</p> + +<p>The child did not flush under the compliment, or the sting, but glanced +down on the floor.</p> + +<p>"Come, thou hast not wished me joy."</p> + +<p>"Madame, as I have not been to France I do not know how they wish joy."</p> + +<p>"Oh, you formal little child!" laughing gayly. "Do you not know what it +is to be happy? Why, you used to be as merry as the birds in singing +time."</p> + +<p>"I can still be merry with the birds."</p> + +<p>"But you must be merry for M. Destournier. He wishes you to be happy, +and has asked me to be a mother to you. Why, I fell in love with you +long ago, when you were so ill. And surely you have not forgotten when I +found you on the gallery, in a dead faint. You were grateful for +everything then."</p> + +<p>Had she loved miladi so much? Why did she not love her now? Why was her +heart so cold? like lead in her bosom.</p> + +<p>"I am grateful for everything."</p> + +<p>"Then say you are glad I am going to marry M. Ralph, who loves me +dearly."</p> + +<p>"Then I shall be glad you are to marry him. But I am sorry for M. +Giffard, in his lonely grave."</p> + +<p>"Oh, horrors, child! Do you think I ought to be buried in the same +grave? There, run away. You give me the shivers."</p> + +<p>Rose made a formal little courtesy, and walked slowly out of the room, +with a swelling heart.</p> + +<p>Miladi told of the scene to her lover daintily, and with some +embellishments, adding—"She is a jealous little thing. You will be +between two fires."</p> + +<p>"The fires will not scorch, I think," smiling. "She will soon outgrow +the childish whim."</p> + +<p>In his secret heart there was a feeling of joy that he had touched such +depths in the little girl's soul. Miladi was rather annoyed that he had +not agreed to send her to some convent in France, as she hoped. But in a +year or two she might choose it for herself.</p> + +<p>They went up to the chapel to be married. The Governor gave the bride +away. She was gowned just as Rose had seen her that first time, only she +was covered with a fine deerskin cloak, that she laid aside as they +walked up the aisle, rather scandalizing the two Récollet fathers. She +looked quite like a girl, and it was evident she was very happy.</p> + +<p>Then they had a feast in the new house, and it was the first occasion of +real note there had been in Quebec. Rose was very quiet and reserved +among the grown folks, though M. de Champlain found time to chat with +her, and tell her that now she had found real parents.</p> + +<p>After this there was a busy season preparing for the winter, as usual, +drying and preserving fruits, taking up root vegetables and storing +them, gathering nuts, and getting in grains of all kinds. Now they kept +pigs alive until about midwinter, and tried to have fresh game quite +often. The scurvy was practically banished.</p> + +<p>As for Rose, the marriage made not so much difference. She was let very +much alone, and rambled about as she listed, until the snows came. +Occasionally she visited Marie, but everything was in a huddle in the +small place, and the chimney often smoked when the wind was east. But +Marie seemed strangely content and happy. Or she went to the Gaudrions, +which she really liked, even if the babies did tumble over her.</p> + +<p>She went sometimes to the classes the Governor's wife was teaching, and +translated to the Indian children many things it was difficult for them +to understand.</p> + +<p>Madame de Champlain would say—"Child, thou ought to be in the service +of the good God and His Virgin Mother. He has given thee many +attractions, but they are to be trained for His work, not for thy own +pleasure. We are not to live a life of ease, but to deny ourselves for +the sake of the souls of those around us."</p> + +<p>"I think oftentimes, Madame, they have no souls," returned the daring +girl. "They seem never able to distinguish between the true God and +their many gods. And if they are ill they use charms. Their religion, I +observe, makes them very happy."</p> + +<p>"There are many false things that please the carnal soul. That is what +we are to fight against. Oh, child, I am afraid the evil one desires +thee strongly. Thou shouldst go to confession, as we do at home, and +accept the penances the good priests put upon thee."</p> + +<p>Confession had not made much headway with these children of the new +world. Father Jamay, to his great disgust, found they would tell almost +anything, thinking to please him with a multitude of sins, and they went +off to forget their penance. So it was not strongly insisted upon.</p> + +<p>Madame de Champlain was a dévote. In her secret heart she longed for the +old convent life. Still she was deeply interested in the plans of the +Récollet fathers, who were establishing missions among the Hurons and +the Nipissings, and learning the languages. She gave generously of her +allowance, and denied herself many things; would, indeed, have given up +more had her husband allowed it.</p> + +<p>Captain Pontgrave came in to spend the winter, brave and cheerful, +though he had lost his only son. While the men exchanged plans for the +future, and smoked in comfort, Madame was often kneeling on a flat stone +she had ordered sent to her little convent-like niche, praying for the +salvation of the new world to be laid at the foot of God's throne, and +to be a glory to old France. But the court of old France was revelling +in pleasure and demanding furs for profit.</p> + +<p>Destournier occasionally joined the conclave. His heart and soul were in +this new land and her advancement, but his wife demanded his company +most of his evenings. She sat in her high-backed chair wrapped in furs +listening to his reading aloud or appearing to, though she often drowsed +off. But there was another who drank in every word, if she did not quite +understand. The wide stone chimney gave out its glowing fire of great +logs, sometimes hemlock branches that diffused a grateful fragrance +around the room. On a sort of settle, soft with folds of furs, Rose +would stretch out gracefully, or curl up like a kitten, and with +wide-open eyes turn her glance from the fascinating fire to the reader's +face, repeating in her brain the sentences she could catch. Sometimes it +was poetry, and then she fairly revelled in delight.</p> + +<p>After a few weeks she seemed to accept the fact of the marriage with +equanimity, but she grew silent and reserved. She understood there was a +secret animosity between herself and miladi, even if they were outwardly +agreeable. She had gathered many pretty and refined ways from Madame de +Champlain, or else they were part of the unknown birthright. She had +turned quite industrious as well, the winter day seemed dreary when one +had no employment. She read a good deal too, she could understand the +French, and occasionally amused herself translating.</p> + +<p>When the spring opened the Governor and several others went to the new +trading post and town, Mont Réal. There really seemed more advantages +here than at Quebec. There was a long stretch of arable land, plenty of +fruit trees, if they were wild; a good port, and more ease in catching +the traders as they came along. There, too, stray Indians often brought +in a few choice furs, which they traded for various trifles, exchanging +these again for rum.</p> + +<p>Rose drew a long breath of delight when the spring fairly opened, and +she could fly to her olden haunts. Oh, how dear they were! Though now +she often smuggled one of M. Ralph's books and amused herself reading +aloud until the woods rang with the melodious sounds.</p> + +<p>Miladi liked a sail now and then on the river, when it was tranquil. She +did not seem to grow stronger, though she would not admit that she was +ill. She watched Rose with a curious half-dread. She was growing tall, +but her figure kept its lithe symmetry. Out in the woods she sometimes +danced like a wild creature. Miladi had been so fond of dancing in M. +Giffard's time, but now it put her out of breath and brought a pain to +her side. She really envied the bright young creature in the grace and +rosiness of perfect health.</p> + +<p>This summer a band of Jesuits came to the colony. They received a rather +frigid welcome from the colonists, but the Récollets, convinced that +they were making very slow advance in so large a field, opened their +convent to them, and assisted them in getting headquarters of their own. +And the church in Quebec began to take shape, it was such a journey to +the convent services at the St. Charles river.</p> + +<p>There followed a long, cold winter. Miladi was housed snug and warm, but +she grew thinner, so that her rings would not stay on her slim fingers. +There had been troubles with the Indians and at times M. Destournier was +obliged to be away, and this fretted her sorely.</p> + +<p>There was a great conclave at Three Rivers, to make a new treaty of +peace with several of the tribes. A solemn smoking of pipes, passing of +wampum, feasts and dances. And then, as usual, the influx of traders.</p> + +<p>Madame de Champlain desired to return to France with her husband, who +was to sail in August. The rough life was not at all to her taste.</p> + +<p>"Oh," said miladi, eagerly, when she heard this, "let us go, too. I am +tired of these long, cold winters. I was not made for this kind of life. +If M. Giffard had lived a year longer he would have had a competency; +and then we should have returned home. Surely you have made money."</p> + +<p>"But mine is not where I can take it at a month's notice. I have been +building on my plantation, weeding out some incompetent and drunken +tenants, and putting in others. Pontgrave is going. Du Pare is much at +the new settlement at Beaupré. It would not be possible for me to go, +but you might."</p> + +<p>"Go alone?" in dismay.</p> + +<p>"It would not be alone. Madame de Champlain would be glad of your +company."</p> + +<p>"A woman who has no other thought but continual prayers, and anxieties +for the souls of the whole world."</p> + +<p>"Another year——"</p> + +<p>"I want to go now"—impatiently.</p> + +<p>She was like a fretful child. He looked in vain now for the charms she +had once possessed.</p> + +<p>"I could not possibly. It would be at a great loss. And I am not +enamored of the broils and disputes. How do I know but some charge may +be trumped up against me? The fur company seize upon any pretext. And +even a brief absence might ruin some of my best plans. Marguerite, I am +more of a Canadian than a Frenchman. The Sieur has promised to interest +some new emigrants. I see great possibilities ahead of us."</p> + +<p>"So you have talked always. I am homesick for La Belle France. I want no +more of Canada, of Quebec, that has grown hateful to me."</p> + +<p>Her voice was high and tremulous, and there burned a red spot on each +cheek.</p> + +<p>"Then let me send you. You should stay a year to recuperate, and I may +come for you."</p> + +<p>"I will take Rose."</p> + +<p>"If she wishes. But I will not have her put in a convent."</p> + +<p>"She is like a wild deer. Do you mean to marry her to some half-breed? +There seems no one else. The men who come on business leave wives +behind. There is no one to marry."</p> + +<p>"You found some one," he returned good-naturedly, smoothing her fair +hair.</p> + +<p>"Can you find another?"</p> + +<p>"She is but a child. There need to be no hurry."</p> + +<p>"She has outgrown childhood. To be sure, there is Pierre Gaudrion, who +hangs about awkwardly, now and then."</p> + +<p>"She will never marry Pierre Gaudrion. She is of too fine stuff."</p> + +<p>"A foundling! Who knows aught about her? Most Frenchmen like a well-born +mother for their children."</p> + +<p>"She is in no haste for a husband. But do not let us dispute about her. +You excite yourself too much. Think seriously of this project. The Sieur +will see you safely housed when once you are there."</p> + +<p>He turned and went out. She fell into a violent fit of weeping. She +could coax anything out of Laurent, poor Laurent, who might have been +alive to-day but for the friendship he thought he owed M. Destournier. +And they might now be in Paris, where there were all sorts of gay +goings-on. This life was too stupid for a woman, too cold, too lonely. +And a wife should be a husband's first thought. Ralph was cold and +cruel, and had grown stern, almost morose.</p> + +<p>He walked over to the plantation. By one of the log huts Rose stood +talking to an Indian woman. Yes, she was no longer a child. She was tall +and shapely, full of vigor, glowing with health, radiant in coloring, +yes, beautiful. There was much of the olden time about her in the smiles +and dimples and eagerness, though she was grave in miladi's presence.</p> + +<p>Yet neither was she a woman. The virginal lines had not wholly filled +out, but there was a promise of affluence that neither my lady nor the +Madame possessed. For the lovely Hélène had dévote written in every line +of her face, a rapt expression, that seemed to lift her above the +ordinary world. The souls of those she came in contact with were the +great thing. And though the Sieur was a good Catholic, he was also of +the present world, and its advancement, and had always been inspired +with the love of an explorer, and of a full, free life. He could never +have been a priest. He had the right view of colonization, too. Homes +were to be made. Men and women were to be attached to the soil to make +it yield up the bountiful provision hidden in its mighty breast.</p> + +<p>And miladi! There had been so few women in his life that he knew nothing +of contrast, or analysis. Some of the men took Indian wives for a year +or so: that had never appealed to him. He had been charmed by Madame +Giffard from the very first meeting with her, but she was another man's +wife, and she loved her husband. The pretty coquetries were a part of +the civilized world over in France and meant only a graceful desire to +please. Then in her sorrow he pitied her profoundly, and felt that he +owed her the highest and most sacred duty.</p> + +<p>But as he studied Rose now, and thought of a suggested lover in Pierre +Gaudrion, his whole soul rose in revolt. And the other thought of +sending her away was equally distasteful. Why, she was the light and +sweetness of the settlement. In a different fashion, she captured the +hearts of the Indian women, and taught them the love of home-making, +roused in some of them intelligence. How did she come by it? There was +Wanamee.</p> + +<p>He did not dream that he had awakened a desire for knowledge in the +girl's breast and brain. But she had gone beyond him in the lore of the +sea and the sky, and the romance of the trees, that to him were +promising materials for houses and boats. They were her friends. She +could translate the soft murmur that ran through their leaves, or the +sweet, wild whistle of the wind that blew in from the river or down from +the high hills,—from the ice and snow of the fur country. And sometimes +he had seen her run races with the foaming river, where it whirled and +eddied and fretted against a spur of the mighty rocks. All her life, +from the day he found her on the rocks, seemed to pass before him in one +great flash. He exulted that she belonged to no one, that he had the +best right to her. He could not have told why. Heaven had denied him a +child of his very own, and he had learned that miladi considered babies +a wearisome burthen, fit only for peasants and Indian women.</p> + +<p>Did the saintly and beautiful Hélène think so as well? he wondered. He +had learned a good deal about womankind since his marriage, but he made +a grand mistake, he had learned only about one woman; and she was not +the noblest of her kind.</p> + +<p>Rose turned suddenly and saw him in that half-waiting attitude. There +was little introspection, or analysis, in those days; people simply +lived, felt without understanding. She had outgrown her first feeling of +aversion. In a vague fashion she realized that miladi needed protection +and care that no one but M. Destournier could give her. She was sorry +she could not ramble about, that she never brightened up, and sung and +danced any more. And this was why she, Rose, did not want to grow old +and give up the delights of vivid, enchanting exercise.</p> + +<p>Why miladi was captious and changeful, never of the same mind twice, she +could not understand. What suited her to-day bored her to-morrow. She +gave up trying to please, though she was generally ready and gracious. +But she remarked it was the same way with M. Ralph, and he bore the +captiousness with so sweet a temper that she felt moved to emulate him. +In the depths of her heart there was a great pity, and it was sweet to +him, though neither ever adverted to it.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XI" id="CHAPTER_XI"></a>CHAPTER XI</h2> + +<h3>A FEAST OF SUMMER</h3> + + +<p>As if his eyes had summoned her, she turned toward him. Out here in +God's wide, beautiful world they could be the same friends, and not fret +any one. It might have been dangerous if he had not been so upright a +man, with no subtle reasonings, and she less simple-hearted.</p> + +<p>"I have been helping Evening Star arrange her house. She is anxious to +be like a Frenchwoman, and has put off many Indian ways since she became +a convert."</p> + +<p>"But you do not give her her Christian name," and he smiled.</p> + +<p>"Maria Assunta! It isn't half as pretty. She has such lovely deep eyes, +and such velvety skin that her Indian name suits her best. What does it +matter?"</p> + +<p>"Perhaps it helps them to break away from Indian superstitions. I do see +some improvement in the women, but the men——"</p> + +<p>She laughed lightly. "The women were better in the beginning. They were +used to work. And all the braves care for is hunting and drinking bouts. +If I were a priest, I should consider them hardly worth the trouble."</p> + +<p>"A fine priest you would make. They consider you half a heretic."</p> + +<p>"I go to chapel, M'sieu, when one can get there. I know a great many +prayers, but they are much alike. I would like all the world to be +upright and good, but I do not want to stay in a stifling little box +until my breath is almost gone, and my knees stiff, saying a thing over +and over. M'sieu, I can feel the Great Presence out on the beautiful +rocks, as I look down on the river and watch the colors come and go, +amber and rose, and greens of so many tints; and the music that is +always so different. Then I think God does not mean us to shut it all +out and be melancholy."</p> + +<p>"You were ever a wild little thing."</p> + +<p>"I can be grave, M'sieu, and silent, when there is need, for others. But +I cannot give up all of my own life. I say to my heart—'Be still, it is +only for a little while'—then comes the dance of freedom."</p> + +<p>She laughed, with a ripple of music.</p> + +<p>"I wonder," he began, after a pause, watching her lithe step and the +proud way she carried her head—"I wonder if you would like to cross the +ocean, to go to France?"</p> + +<p>"With the beautiful Madame? It is said she is to sail as soon as the +boats are loaded."</p> + +<p>"Miladi might go with her. I could not be spared. And you——"</p> + +<p>He saw the sudden, great throb that moved her breast up to her very +shoulders.</p> + +<p>"I should not want to go," in a quiet tone.</p> + +<p>"But if I found at the last hour that I could go?"</p> + +<p>She drew a long breath. "M'sieu, I have no desire to see France. I hear +you and the Governor talk about it, and the great court where the King +spends his time in foolishness, and the Queen Mother plots wicked +schemes. And they throw people in prison for religion's sake. Did I hear +a story of some people who were burned at the stake? Why, that is as +cruel as the untaught Indians. And to cross the big, fearful ocean. Last +summer we sailed up to the great gulf, you know, and you could see where +the ocean and sky met. No, I like this old, rocky place the best."</p> + +<p>"But if miladi wanted you to go very much?"</p> + +<p>"She will not want me very much, in her heart," and she glanced up so +straightforwardly that he flushed. "No, you will leave me here and I +will be very religious. I will go to the chapel every Sunday and pray. I +will have a <i>prie-dieu</i> in one corner, and kneel many times a day, +praying that you will come back safely. I shall have something real to +pray for then. And—miladi will be very happy."</p> + +<p>There was a fervor, touching in its earnestness, that penetrated his +soul.</p> + +<p>"You will not miss me much," he ventured.</p> + +<p>The quick tears sprang to her eyes.</p> + +<p>"Oh, yes, I should miss you," and her voice had a little tremble in it. +"But you would return. Oh, yes, I know the good God would send you back. +See how many times he has sent the Sieur de Champlain back!"</p> + +<p>She raised her face to his, and though the tears still beaded her long +lashes, the lips smiled adorably. He could have kissed her, but his fine +respect told him that endearment was sacred to another man now.</p> + +<p>"I do not think I shall go. Some one must be here to see that things do +not go to wreck."</p> + +<p>She wondered if miladi would go without him. They walked on silently. He +was thinking of the other man. The Sieur hoped to persuade some +better-class emigrants on his next voyage.</p> + +<p>Whether miladi would have gone or not could not be known. She was taken +quite ill. The doctor came down from Tadoussac, and said she would not +be strong enough to stand such a long voyage.</p> + +<p>Wanamee was her indefatigable nurse when her husband was away, as he was +compelled to be in the daytime. On a few occasions she insisted that +Rose should read from some old volumes of poems. She used to watch, with +strange, longing eyes. Ah, if she could be young again, and strong. Did +M'sieu Ralph often think of the years between, and that some time in the +future she would be an old woman! He appeared to grow more vigorous and +younger.</p> + +<p>There were busy times in the little town. The traders seemed to be +rougher every year. They were not much inside the palisade, but they set +up booths and tents on the shore edge, and there was much drinking and +chaffering.</p> + +<p>"Thou must not go outside of the palisade," said Destournier to Rose. +"There are many rude, drunken men about."</p> + +<p>She did not demur. In truth she spent many hours comforting the Indian +women for the loss of their angel lady, whom they had truly worshipped, +and whom, in their vague ignorant fashion, they had confused with the +Virgin. But she had wearied of the wildness and the lack of the society +of the nuns that she loved so dearly. Two of her maids would return with +her, the other had married.</p> + +<p>And though she had not made very warm friends with Madame Destournier, +she would have liked her companionship on the long voyage. And miladi +was really sorry to have the break, since there were so few women, even +if she did tire of her religion.</p> + +<p>"If we do not meet again here," Madame Hélène said, in her +sweetly-modulated voice, that savored of the convent, "it is to be hoped +we shall reach the home where we shall rest with the saints, when the +Divine has had His will with us. Farewell, my sister, and may the Holy +Virgin come to your assistance in the darkest hours."</p> + +<p>Then she knelt and prayed. Miladi shuddered. Was she going to die? Oh, +no, she could not.</p> + +<p>The vessel came down from Tadoussac. All the river was afloat, as usual, +at this season. A young man sprang off and pressed his sister's hand +warmly.</p> + +<p>The Héberts, with their son and daughter, the married maid and her +husband and several others, who had stood a little in awe of the +Governor's lady, were there to wish her <i>bon voyage</i>. Her husband +assisted her, with the tenderest care. Was he happy with her, when she +was only half his age? M. Destournier wondered.</p> + +<p>When they started, a salute was fired. He was leaving his new fort but +half completed.</p> + +<p>"Who was that pretty young girl who kept so close to the Héberts?" +Eustache Boullé asked his sister. "There, talking to that group of +Indian women."</p> + +<p>"Oh, that is M. Destournier's ward. Surely, you saw her when you first +came here, though she was but a child then. A foundling, it seems. Good +Father Jamay was quite urgent that she should be sent home, and spend +some years in a convent."</p> + +<p>"And she refused? She looks like it. Oh, yes, I remember the child."</p> + +<p>"Beauty is a great snare where there is a wayward will," sighed the +devoted Hélène. "It is no country for young girls of the better class. +Though no one knows to what class she really belongs."</p> + +<p>Eustache fell into a dream. What a bright attractive child she had +been. How could he have forgotten her? He was two-and-twenty now, and +his man's heart had been stirred by her beauty.</p> + +<p>If Rose was not so much of a dévote she began to make herself useful to +many of the Indian converts who missed their dear lady. To keep their +houses tidy, to learn a little about the useful side of gardening, and +how their crops must be tended, to insure the best results. The children +could be set to do much of this.</p> + +<p>Quebec fell back to its natural state. There was no more carousing along +the river, no drunken men wrangling in the booths, no affrays. Rose +could ramble about as she liked, and she felt like a prisoner set free. +Madame Destournier was better, and each day took a sail upon the river, +which seemed to strengthen her greatly. Presently they would spend a +fortnight at the new settlement, Mont Réal. Many things were left in the +hands of M. Destournier, and his own affairs had greatly increased.</p> + +<p>One afternoon Rose had espied a branch of purple plums, that no one had +touched, on a great tree that had had space and sun, but fruited only on +the southern side. No stick or stone could dislodge them. How tempting +they looked, in their rich, melting sheen.</p> + +<p>"I must have some," she said, eyeing the size of the trunk, the smooth +bark, and the distance before there was any limb. Then she considered. +Finding a crotched stick, a limb that had been broken off in some high +wind, she caught it in the lowest branch and gently pulled it down until +she grasped it with her hand.</p> + +<p>Yes, it was tough. She swung to it. Then she felt her way up cautiously, +like a cat, and when she swung near enough, caught one arm around the +tree trunk. It was a hard scramble, but she stood upon it triumphantly. +It bore her weight, yet she must go higher, for she could not reach the +temptingly-laden limb. Now and then a branch swayed—if she had her +stick up here that she had dropped so disdainfully when she had captured +the limb.</p> + +<p>"It is a good thing to be sure you will not want what you fling away," +she said to herself, sententiously.</p> + +<p>"Aha!" She had caught the limb and drew it in carefully. There she sat, +queen of a solitary feast. Were ever plums so luscious! Some of the +ripest fell to the ground and smashed, making cones of golden red, with +a tiny cap of purple at the top.</p> + +<p>In the old Latin book she still dipped into occasionally there were +descriptions of orchards laden with fruit that made the air around +fragrant. She could imagine herself there.</p> + +<p>In that country there were gods everywhere, by the streams, where one +named Pan played on pipes. What were pipes that could emit music? The +nooks hid them. The zephyrs repeated their songs and laments.</p> + +<p>There was a swift dazzle and a bird lighted on the branch above her, and +poured out such a melodious warble that she was entranced. A bird from +some other tree answered. Ah! what delight to eat her fill to measures +of sweetest music, and she suddenly joined in.</p> + +<p>The young fellow who had been following a beaten path paused in amaze. +Was it a human voice? It broke off into a clear, beautiful whistle that, +striking against a ledge of rock, rebounded in an echo. He crept along +on the soft grass, where the underbrush had some time been fired. The +tree was swaying to and fro, and a shower of fruit came to the ground.</p> + +<p>He drew nearer and then he espied the dryad. From one point he could see +a girl, sitting in superb unconcern. Was it the one he had been +searching for diligently the last hour? How had she been able to perch +herself up there?</p> + +<p>Presently she had taken her fill of the fruit, of swinging daintily to +and fro, of watching the sun-beams play hide-and-seek among the distant +fir trees, that held black nooks in their shade, of studying with +intense ecstasy the wonderful colors gathering around the setting sun, +for which she had no name, but that always seemed as if set to some +wondrous music. Every pulse stirred within her, making life itself +sweet.</p> + +<p>She stepped down on the lower limb. It would be rather rough to slide +down the tree trunk, but she had not minded it in her childhood. The +other way she had often tried as well. She held on to the limb above, +and walked out on hers, until it began to sway so that she could hardly +balance herself. Then she gave one spring, and almost came down in the +young man's arms.</p> + +<p>She righted herself in a moment, and stared at him. There was something +familiar in the soft eyes, in the general contour of the face.</p> + +<p>"You do not remember me!"</p> + +<p>"Let me think," she said, with a calmness that amused him. "Yes, it +comes to me. I saw you on the boat that conveyed Madame de Champlain. +You are her brother."</p> + +<p>"Eustache Boullé, at your service," and he bowed gracefully. "But I did +not know you, Mam'selle. You were such a child four years ago. Even then +you made an impression upon me."</p> + +<p>She was so little used to compliments that it did not stir her in the +slightest. She was wondering, and at length she said—</p> + +<p>"How did you find me?"</p> + +<p>"By hard searching, Mam'selle. I saw your foster-mother—I believe she +is that—and she gave me a graphic description of your wanderings. I +paused here because the beauty of the place attracted me. And I heard a +voice I knew must be human, emulating the birds, so I drew nearer. Will +you forgive me when I confess I rifled your store? What plums these are! +I did not know that Canada could produce anything so utterly delicious. +We have some wild sour ones that get dried and made eatable in the +winter, when other things are scarce. And the Indians make a +queer-tasting drink out of them."</p> + +<p>"I found this tree quite by accident. I never saw it before, and if you +will look, there are only two branches that have any fruit. The other +side of the tree is barren. And that high branch will give the birds a +feast. I do not think I could venture up there," laughing.</p> + +<p>"I wondered how you ventured at all. And how you dared come down that +way."</p> + +<p>His eyes expressed the utmost admiration.</p> + +<p>"Oh," she answered carelessly, "that was an old trick of mine, my +childhood's delight. I used to try how far I could walk out before the +limb would give me warning."</p> + +<p>"But if it had broken?"</p> + +<p>"Why, I should have jumped, all the same. You did not go with your +sister and M. de Champlain."</p> + +<p>"I had half a mind to, then I reconsidered."</p> + +<p>She met his gaze calmly, as if she was wondering a little what had +prevented him.</p> + +<p>"And I came to Quebec. It begins to grow. But we want something beside +Indians. M. Destournier has settled quite a plantation of them, and my +sister has believed in their conversion. But when one knows them +well—he has not so much faith in them. They are apt to revert to the +original belief, crude superstitions."</p> + +<p>"It is hard to believe," the girl said slowly.</p> + +<p>"That depends. Some beliefs are very pleasant and appeal to the heart."</p> + +<p>"But is it of real service to God that one rolls in a bed of thorns, or +walks barefoot over sharp stones, or kneels all night on a hard, cold +floor? There are so many beautiful things in the world, and God has made +them——"</p> + +<p>"As a snare, the priest will tell you. Mam'selle, thou hast not been +made for a devotee. It would be a great loss to one man if thou shouldst +bury all these charms in a convent."</p> + +<p>"I do not know any man who would grieve," she made answer indifferently.</p> + +<p>"But you might," and a peculiar smile settled about his lips.</p> + +<p>"I am going to take home as many of these plums as I can carry. Madame +Destournier is not well, and has a great longing for different things. I +found some splendid berries yesterday which she ate with a relish. +Sickness gives one many desires. I am glad I am always well. At least I +was never ill but once, and that was long ago."</p> + +<p>She sprang up and began to look about her. "If I could find some large +leaves——"</p> + +<p>"I will fill my pockets."</p> + +<p>She looked helplessly at her own garments, and then colored vividly, +thinking if this young man were not here she would gather a lapful. Why +should she have this strange consciousness?</p> + +<p>Nothing of service met her gaze, and she drew her brow into a little +frown. It gave her a curious piquancy, and interested him. She had +spirit.</p> + +<p>"Oh, I know! What a dullard I was. Those great flaring dockweeds do not +grow about here. But something else will answer."</p> + +<p>She ran over to an old birch tree and tore off great pieces of bark, +then gathering some half-dried grasses, began to fashion a sort of pail, +bending up the edges to make the bottom. She was so quick and deft, it +was a pleasure to watch her. Then she filled it with the choicest of the +fruit. There was still some left.</p> + +<p>"We might have another feast," he suggested.</p> + +<p>"I have feasted sufficiently. Let us make another basket. It can be +smaller than this."</p> + +<p>It was very pleasant to dally there in the woods. He was unnecessarily +awkward, that the slim fingers might touch his, and her little laugh was +charming.</p> + +<p>"Allow me to carry the larger one," and he reached for it.</p> + +<p>"No, no. You are weighted in the pockets. And these are choice. I will +have no one take part in them."</p> + +<p>She drew herself aside and began to march with a graceful, vigorous +step, her head proudly poised on the arching neck that, bared to summer +suns and wind, yet was always white. The delicious little hollow, where +the collar bones met, was formed to lay kisses in, and be filled with +warm, throbbing lips. Yes, he was right in coming back to Quebec, she +was more enchanting than the glimpse of her had been.</p> + +<p>"Why do you look at me so?" she cried, with a kind of quick repulsion +she did not understand, but it angered her.</p> + +<p>"It is the homage we pay to beauty, Mam'selle."</p> + +<p>"Your sister is beautiful," she said, with an abruptness that was almost +anger.</p> + +<p>"So thought the Sieur de Champlain, and I believe she was not offended +at it."</p> + +<p>"I am not like that," she declared decisively. "She was fair as a lily, +and Father Jamay said she had the face of a saint."</p> + +<p>"I am not so partial to saints myself. And my brother-in-law would have +been better satisfied, I do believe, if she had been less saintly."</p> + +<p>She looked a trifle puzzled.</p> + +<p>"It is long since you left France," she commented irrelevantly.</p> + +<p>"I was not seventeen. It is six years ago."</p> + +<p>"Do you mean to go back?"</p> + +<p>"Sometime, Mam'selle. Would you like to go?"</p> + +<p>"No," she said decidedly.</p> + +<p>"But why not?" amused.</p> + +<p>"Because I like Quebec."</p> + +<p>"It is a wretched wilderness of a place."</p> + +<p>"Madame Destournier talks about France. Why, if Paris is all gayety and +pleasure, are people put in dungeons, and then to death? And there seem +so many rulers. They are not always good to the Sieur, either."</p> + +<p>"They do not understand. But these are too weighty matters for a young +head."</p> + +<p>"Why do they not want a great, beautiful town here! All they care about +is the furs, and the rough men and Indians spoil the summer. I like to +hear the Sieur tell what might be, houses and castles, and streets, +instead of these crooked, winding paths, and—there are fine shops, +where you buy beautiful things," glancing vaguely at him.</p> + +<p>"Why should you not like to go thither then, if you can dream of these +delights?"</p> + +<p>"I want the Sieur to have his way, and do some of the things he has set +his heart upon. Miladi would like it too. But I am well enough +satisfied."</p> + +<p>She tossed her head in her superb strength. He had not known many women, +and they were older. There was something in her fresh sweetness that +touched him to the soul.</p> + +<p>"This way, M'sieu." He was plunging ahead, keeping pace with some +tumultuous thoughts.</p> + +<p>"Ah——!"</p> + +<p>"And see—you have been careless. You are sowing plums along the way. +This is no place for them to take root."</p> + +<p>She gave a little laugh as well, though she had begun in a sharp tone.</p> + +<p>He had pressed the side of his slight receptacle and made a yawning +crack in it.</p> + +<p>"Well, now you must gather that great leaf and patch it. Here are some +pine needles. I sew with them sometimes. You do not need a thread."</p> + +<p>Was she laughing at him?</p> + +<p>He managed to repair the damages, and picked up the plums he had not +trodden upon, that were yielding their wine-like fragrance to the air.</p> + +<p>"Which way do you go, M'sieu?" she asked, with unconscious hauteur.</p> + +<p>"Why—to M. Destournier's. I called on miladi, and she sent me to find +you in some wood, she hardly knew where. And I have brought you safely +back."</p> + +<p>"M'sieu, I have come back many a time in safety without you."</p> + +<p>Her voice had a suggestion of dismissal in it.</p> + +<p>"I must present my spoils to Madame. No, I believe they are yours, you +were the discoverer, you made the purple shower that I only helped +gather."</p> + +<p>She skipped up the steps lightly. How dainty her moccasined feet were! +The short skirt showed the small ankles and the swell of the beautiful +leg. Her figure was not a whit behind his sister's convent-trained one, +but she was fearless as a deer.</p> + +<p>Miladi sat out on the gallery in her chair, that could be moved about +with ease by a small lever at the side. Looking down at the youthful +figures, the thought beset her that haunts all women, that here was +material for a very fortunate match. He was much superior to Pierre +Gaudrion.</p> + +<p>"The trophies of the hunt," Boullé exclaimed gayly. "The huntress and +the most delicious harvest. I have seen nothing like it."</p> + +<p>"I found some plums, a tree quite by itself, and only two branches of +fruit. We must send some of the best pits to M. Hébert. And I shall +plant a row in the Sieur's garden."</p> + +<p>She brought out a dish and took them carefully from the birch-bark +receptacle. The exquisite bloom had not been disturbed.</p> + +<p>"I will get a dish for yours," she said to the young man.</p> + +<p>"Mine were the gleanings," he laughed.</p> + +<p>Miladi's eyes glowed at the sight of the feast. Rose had not emptied all +of hers out, and now she laid three beauties in the corner of the +cupboard, looking around until she espied a pan. Wooden platters were +mostly used, even the Indian women were handy in fashioning them.</p> + +<p>The young man had taken a seat and a plum, and was regaling his hostess +with the adventure.</p> + +<p>"Curious that I should find the place so easily," and he smiled most +beguilingly. "Sometimes one seems led in just the right way."</p> + +<p>For several reasons he preferred not to say he had heard the singing.</p> + +<p>"Yes," and now she gave a soft, answering smile, as if there might be a +mysterious understanding between them. Miladi was often ennuied, now +that she was never really well, and the sight and voice of a young man +cheered her inexplicably.</p> + +<p>"Every one knows her. She is the most fearless thing."</p> + +<p>"I remember her when she was very little. How tall she has grown. A very +pretty girl."</p> + +<p>"Youth always has a prettiness. It is the roundness and coloring. I +often long to go back and have it all over again. I should remain in +France. I do not see what there is in this bleak country to charm one."</p> + +<p>"There was some talk of your going with my sister, was there not?"</p> + +<p>"Yes. But I was too ill. And M. Destournier thought he could not leave. +He has many interests here."</p> + +<p>Rose re-entered the room.</p> + +<p>"I never tasted such delicious plums," the elder commented, in a pleased +tone. "I want some saved as long as they will keep."</p> + +<p>"There is a quantity of them. I should have had to make another journey +but for M. Boullé," and she dropped a charming little courtesy.</p> + +<p>"We might see if we could not find another tree."</p> + +<p>"I doubt it."</p> + +<p>"Will you stay some time?" asked miladi.</p> + +<p>"They can do without me a while. Business is mostly over."</p> + +<p>She raised her eyes, and they said she was pleased with the plan. Rose +busied herself about the room, then suddenly disappeared. She had seen +M. Destournier coming up the crooked pathway, and with a parcel in her +hand, went out to meet him.</p> + +<p>"I thought of you. Miladi was delighted with hers. Some seagull must +have brought the pit across the ocean. It is so much finer than any we +have around here."</p> + +<p>He broke it open, but the golden purple juice ran over his hand.</p> + +<p>"It is the wine of sunshine. Here is to thy health, Rose of Quebec."</p> + +<p>"M. Boullé is in there," nodding. "He came out in the wood and found me +up the tree," and she laughed gayly.</p> + +<p>"Found thee——" Something sharp went to the heart of the man, and he +looked down into the fearless eyes, with their gay, unsuspecting +innocence.</p> + +<p>"As if I could be lost in dear old Quebec!"</p> + +<p>"Is it dear to thee?"</p> + +<p>"Why, I have never known any other place, any other home."</p> + +<p>There were many knowledges beside that of childhood. And among them one +might be all-engrossing.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XII" id="CHAPTER_XII"></a>CHAPTER XII</h2> + +<h3>A LOVER IN EARNEST</h3> + + +<p>Eustache Boullé seemed in no hurry to return to Tadoussac. He was +wonderfully interested in the new fort, in the different improvements, +in miladi, who, somehow, seemed to improve and render herself very +agreeable. She had a queer feeling about him. If one could be young +again—ah, that would be back in France. She had a happy time with +Laurent. She had exulted in winning her second husband, but somehow the +real flavor and zest of love had not been there.</p> + +<p>When Eustache was with Rose she experienced a keen, hungering jealousy, +and it was then she wanted to be young. The girl was strangely obtuse. +She never colored when he came, or evinced any half-bashful joy, she +left him with miladi, and went off with the utmost unconcern. She was +much in the settlement, showing the Indian women nice ways of keeping +their homes and children tidy, so that when the beautiful wife of the +Governor returned they would have great improvement to show her. True, +they went out canoeing, and the sweet breath of the river washing the +sedgy grass on the small islands, gave a faint tang of salt, or where it +dashed and fretted against the rocks made iridescent spray. There were +so many beautiful places. And though she had seen the falls more than +once, she went again to please him, after making several excuses. Pani +was her bodyguard. He was still small, and lithe as an eel, and the +mixture of races showed in him. Wanamee was sometimes peremptorily +ordered to accompany him.</p> + +<p>The wooing of looks and smiles had little effect on her. Sometimes he +reached for her hand, but it cunningly evaded him. She seemed so +sufficient for herself that the matter was reduced to good-comrade-ship. +Yet there were times when he was wild to kiss the rosy, dimpling mouth, +to press the soft cheek, to hold the pliant figure in his arms.</p> + +<p>It was but right that he should ask M. Destournier for his +foster-daughter.</p> + +<p>To lose her! Ah, how could he give her up?</p> + +<p>"Would you come to Quebec?"</p> + +<p>"My interests are at Tadoussac. And there are the fisheries at the +islands growing more profitable. But I might come often if she grew +homesick, and pined for this rough, rocky place."</p> + +<p>"It will be as she pleases," the man said, with a heavy heart.</p> + +<p>"I must tell you that I think Madame favors my suit."</p> + +<p>M. Destournier merely bowed.</p> + +<p>The husband and wife had never touched upon the subject. She could not +decide. The girl was very useful to her since she had fallen into +invalid ways. M. Destournier had to be journeying about a good deal. She +could read so delightfully when the nights were long, tiresome, and +sleepless. Even Wanamee could not arrange her hair with such deft +touches, and it really appeared as if she could take off the burthen of +years by some delicate manipulations. Yes, she would miss her very much. +But it would be a grand match for a foundling. And if they went to +France, she would rouse herself and go. M. Destournier was so occupied +with the matters of the town that he had grown indifferent, and seldom +played the lover.</p> + +<p>But how was Eustache to propose to a girl who could not, or would not +understand, who never allowed any endearments or softened to sentiment. +Why, here had been a whole fortnight since he had won the Sieur's tardy +consent. Now and then he had found some soft-eyed Indian girl not averse +to modestly-caressing ways, but his religion kept him from any absolute +wrong, and meaning to marry some time, he had not played at love.</p> + +<p>So he came to miladi with his anxieties. Was there ever a woman's soul +formed with no longing, no understanding of the divine passion, that +could kneel at the marriage altar in singleness of heart?</p> + +<p>Miladi studied the young man. Had the girl no warm blood coursing +through her veins, no throb of pleased vanity, at the preference of this +patient lover? Perhaps he was too patient.</p> + +<p>"Yes," she made answer, "I will see. You are quite sure your family will +not be displeased? We know nothing of her birth, you are aware."</p> + +<p>"Her beauty will make amends for that."</p> + +<p>One could not deny her beauty. Such a dower had never been miladi's, +though she had been pretty in youth.</p> + +<p>"Beg her to listen to me."</p> + +<p>"A man should be able to compel a woman to listen," she made answer a +little sharply.</p> + +<p>Glancing out over the space between, she caught sight of Rose and her +husband coming down from the fort. She was gay enough now, talking with +no restraint.</p> + +<p>"I am almost jealous of M. Destournier," Eustache said, with a sigh.</p> + +<p>Miladi was suddenly jealous as well, and this swept away the last shred +of reluctance.</p> + +<p>"You give her great honor by this marriage proposal. She shall be +compelled to consider it."</p> + +<p>"A thousand thanks. If Madame will excuse, I will go out to them."</p> + +<p>M. Destournier left her with the young lover. Would she not go out on +the river? No. Then let them take a forest ramble. There were some fine +grapes back of the settlement. Pani had brought in a great basket full. +What would she do?</p> + +<p>"Sit here on this ledge and watch the river. Pierre Cadotte is at the +fort. They came through the rapids at Lachine. It was very exciting. He +has been at the trading post up to the strait and tells marvellous +stories of hardships and heroism. And the good priest up there has made +converts already."</p> + +<p>She was always so interested in some far-off thing.</p> + +<p>"I wish a priest might make a convert here. There is much need."</p> + +<p>She was off her guard. Canoes and boats were going up and down the +river. Some men were hauling in a catch of fish; just below, an Indian +woman sat weaving reed baskets, while a group of children played around. +Not an ideal spot for love-making, but Eustache was desperate.</p> + +<p>"Thee"—leaning over until his black curls touched hers. "I would have +thee converted to love and matrimony. I have been a coward, and kept my +heartaches and desires to myself. I can do it no longer."</p> + +<p>"But I am not for matrimony." She raised her clear eyes that would have +disheartened almost any man. "I do not want any husband. I like my own +fancies, and I suppose they are strange. There is only one person I ever +talk to about them. No one else understands. I think sometimes I do not +belong here, but to another country; no, the country is well enough. I +am suited to that. I do not want to go away."</p> + +<p>"You would like old France, Paris. My mother would be glad to welcome +you, I know. And, oh, you would like Paris. Or, if you would rather stay +here——"</p> + +<p>"I do not want to be married in a long time yet. Women change so much +when they have husbands, and it seems as if they made themselves unhappy +over many things their husbands do."</p> + +<p>"But my sister was very happy. She would not have come all the way to +New France if she had not loved her husband dearly."</p> + +<p>"You see that is so different. I do not love any one in that manner. +And, oh, M'sieu, she was like an angel, and prayed so much. It is a good +thing, but I would not like to stay in a darkened room and pray. I like +better to be roaming in the woods, and singing with the birds, and +gathering flowers. I believe I am not old enough to accept these +things."</p> + +<p>"But my sister was only twelve when she was betrothed to the Sieur de +Champlain."</p> + +<p>"You see something makes the difference." Her brow knit in perplexity. +"If it is a thing you want, it would be very easy to reach out your hand +and take it——"</p> + +<p>"But I want it!" He reached out his hand and caught hers. "I love you, +strange, bewitching as you are in your innocence. And I would teach you +what love was. No young girl loves much before marriage. But when she is +with her husband day by day and his devotion is laid at her feet, she +cannot help understanding what a delight it is, and she learns to give +of her sweetest and best, as you will, my adorable child."</p> + +<p>The heat of his hand and the pulse throbbing in every finger roused a +deeper feeling of resistance. She tried to withdraw it, but the pressure +only tightened.</p> + +<p>"Will you release my hand?" she said, with a new-born dignity. "It is +mine, not yours!"</p> + +<p>"But I wish it for mine. Oh, Rose, you sweet, delightful creature, you +<i>must</i> learn to love me. I cannot give you up. And the Destourniers are +quite willing. I have asked for you."</p> + +<p>"No one can give me away. I belong only to myself."</p> + +<p>She drew her hand away in an unguarded moment. She sprang up straight +and lithe, her head poised superbly. Every pulse within him was +mysteriously stirred, and his breath came in gasps. Yes, he must set her +in his life. It would be bleak and barren without. To kiss the rosy lips +when he listed, to pillow the fair head on his shoulder, to encircle the +supple figure, so full of vitality, in his arms—yes, that would be the +highest delight.</p> + +<p>"I will wait," he said, in a beseeching voice. "You are but a child. +Pity has not sprung up in your heart yet. I will wait and watch for the +first sign."</p> + +<p>"Go!" She made a dismissing gesture with her hand. "Do not attempt to +follow me."</p> + +<p>He stood still, looking after her. His whole soul was aflame, his voice +could have cried to the heavens above that she might be enkindled with +the sacred flame that leaped and flashed within him.</p> + +<p>Rose picked her way deftly, daintily over the rocky way. She did not +stop at the house, but went on to the beach. A fish-hawk was chasing a +robin, that suddenly veered round as if asking her protection, and +picking up a sharp stone, she took aim at the hawk and stunned him for +an instant, so that he lost his balance.</p> + +<p>"Bravo, little Rose," said a hearty voice, and the canoe turned in the +bend. "If your stone had been larger it might have done more execution."</p> + +<p>"But I saved the bird." The robin had perched himself on the limb of a +dead fir tree, and began a gay song.</p> + +<p>"You had better go farther away from your enemy," she counselled. Then +to the canoeist—"Will you let me come in and go down the river?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, I will take you down. What did you do with young Boullé?"</p> + +<p>She colored a little. "I want to tell you."</p> + +<p>"I saw you both up on the cliff."</p> + +<p>"I came away and left him."</p> + +<p>He drew up the canoe and she stepped in lightly, seating herself so +gently that the canoe did not even swerve.</p> + +<p>"How blue the water is! And so clear. It is like the heaven above. And +there are rays of sun in the river bed. It does not seem very deep, does +it? I could almost touch it with my hand."</p> + +<p>Destournier laughed. "Suppose you try?"</p> + +<p>"And tip us over?" She smiled as well.</p> + +<p>It was so lovely that both were moved to silence. Now and then they +glanced at each other, at some special point or happening. She was not +effusive.</p> + +<p>After a while she began with—"Do you like M. Boullé very much?"</p> + +<p>"He is a promising young man, I am glad he did not return to France. We +have few enough of them here. Every one counts."</p> + +<p>"He will go some time," she said, reflectively.</p> + +<p>A sudden thought flashed through his mind. The girl's face was very +calm, but her eyes had a sort of protest in them.</p> + +<p>"Will he take you?" Destournier asked, in a husky tone.</p> + +<p>"Oh, M'sieu Ralph, would you send me? Would you give me to any one +else?"</p> + +<p>Now her eyes were alight with an eager breathless expression that was +almost anguish.</p> + +<p>"Not if you did not want to go."</p> + +<p>"I do not want to go anywhere. Oh, M'sieu Ralph," and now her tone was +piteous, "I wish you would send him away. I liked him very well at +first, but now he wants me to love him, and I cannot, the kind of love +that impels one to marry, and I do not want to be married."</p> + +<p>"Has he tried to persuade you?"</p> + +<p>Ralph Destournier knew he would make a good husband. Some time Rose +would marry. But it was plain she did not love him. And though love +might not be necessary, it was a very sweet accompaniment that, he knew +now, it was sad to miss.</p> + +<p>"He talked to me about marriage. I do not like it." She gave a little +shiver, and the color went out of her face, even her lips, and her +pliant figure seemed to shrink as from a blow.</p> + +<p>"My child, no one shall marry you against your will, neither shall you +be taken away. Rest content in my promise."</p> + +<p>She nodded, then smiled, with trusting eyes. He wondered a little about +her future. While he lived—well, the Sieur de Champlain was well and +hearty, and much older. She was only a child yet, though she had +suddenly grown tall. He could care for her in the years to come, and she +would no doubt find a mate. He knew very little about girls. They +generally went to convents and were educated and husbands were chosen +for them by their parents. But in this new world matters had changed. +There was talk of a convent to train the Indian girls, and the +half-breeds who took more readily to civilization. The priests were in +earnest about it, but money was lacking. Rose had picked up much useful +knowledge, and knew some things unusual for a girl. Good Father Jamay +would be shocked at Terence, Aristophanes, and Virgil for a girl.</p> + +<p>"So you do not like marriage?" he said, rather jestingly.</p> + +<p>She shook her head.</p> + +<p>"But then you know nothing about it."</p> + +<p>"Why, there is the Sieur and the beautiful Madame. And you and miladi. +And Marie, with her dirty house and her babies. She is not as nice as +the Indian women. And they have to wait upon the braves or else, when +the braves are off fur hunting, they have to plant the crops and catch +fish, and even hunt and mend tents, and do such hard work. All that is +no delight like dreaming on the moss in the woods, and talking to the +birds, and breathing the fragrance all about, and having rushes of +delight sweep over you like a waft from the beautiful heaven above. Oh, +why should I marry; to think of some one else that I do not want and not +feel that my life was my very own."</p> + +<p>He studied the youthful unconscious face before him, the clear, fine +skin, a few shades deeper from the daily contact with sun and much +dallying on the river; the beautiful dark eyes that seemed always +gathering the choicest of life, with joy and wonder; the rounded cheeks, +with exquisitely-faint coloring, seeming to join the clear-cut chin, +with its dimpled cleft melting into the shapely throat, that upheld it +like a flower on a strong, yet delicate stem. He was strangely moved by +the peculiar aloofness of the beauty.</p> + +<p>Her soft hair hung about her like a cloud, the curling ends moved now +and then as if by their own vigorous life. Indeed, there was an intense +sort of vitality about her that, quiescent as it often was, in this +trifling, daily round, could shoot up into a bewildering flame. Perhaps +that was love. She did not have it for Eustache Boullé, she might never +have it for him. Were men and women but half alive? Was there some +sudden revivifying influence that raised them above the daily wants, +that gave them an insight into a new existence? Had he ever experienced +it?</p> + +<p>The sun dropped down behind a range of hills, covered with pines, furs, +and cedars, that were growing into a compact dark wall, the interstices +being black. The edge of the river took on these sombre hues, but a +little beyond there were long strips of rose and tawny gold, between +zones of purple and green. The current tossed them hither and thither, +like some weird thing winding about. Destournier was strangely moved by +this mysterious kinship to nature that he had never experienced before.</p> + +<p>"We must turn back," he began briefly, though it seemed to him he could +gladly go on to a new life in some other land.</p> + +<p>She nodded. The tide was growing a little stronger, but it was in their +favor. They kept quite near the shore, where it was dark in spaces, and +then opened into a sort of clearing, only to close again. Even now the +voyager dreams on the enchanting shores that are not all given up to +towns and business.</p> + +<p>She began to sing. It was melody without words. Now and then she +recalled a French verse or two, then it settled into some melancholy +Indian plaint, or the evening song of a belated bird. She was not +singing for him, yet he was enchanted.</p> + +<p>He drew in the canoe presently. She sprang out with the agile grace +caught from much solitary rambling and climbing. Then she waited for him +to fasten it.</p> + +<p>"You are quite sure that you will not consent to M. Boullé's wishes?" +she inquired, as they turned in and out of the winding path.</p> + +<p>"You shall be left entirely free. You shall not marry at all, if you +prefer," he answered solemnly.</p> + +<p>"Oh, a thousand thanks. And you will convince miladi. I think she wishes +M. Boullé all success. I must go make my peace with Wanamee and get some +supper."</p> + +<p>She ran to the end of the house, the wide kitchen, where the cooking was +done. Wanamee and Mawha were in a discussion, as often happened. Pani +sat with a great wooden platter on his knees, eating voraciously. Rose +realized suddenly that she was hungry, and the smell of the broiling +fish was appetizing.</p> + +<p>"I'm famished, Wanamee," she cried. "Will you give me some supper?"</p> + +<p>"Miladi is much vexed with you, little one. She had supper sent to her +room and M. Boullé was there. They wanted you and M. Destournier. There +was to be a—I do not know what you call it, but he wanted you to +promise to be his wife, for he goes to Tadoussac to-morrow."</p> + +<p>Rose's heart beat with a guilty joy.</p> + +<p>"I should not promise that. I do not want to be a wife."</p> + +<p>Mawha, who had been a wife several times, a tall, rather severe-looking +Indian woman, turned upon her.</p> + +<p>"Thou art well-grown and shouldst have a husband. Girls get too wild if +they are let go too long. A husband keeps them in order."</p> + +<p>"I will have some supper," Rose said, with dignity, ignoring the +stricture.</p> + +<p>Then she cleared a place on the table and brushed it clean with the +birch twigs. Wanamee brought a plate of Indian meal cake, deliciously +browned, some potatoes baked in the hot ashes, and a great slice of +fish, with a dish of spiced preserves of some green fruit and berries.</p> + +<p>"I looked for you," Pani said. "Were you up on the mountain?"</p> + +<p>Rose shook her head.</p> + +<p>She was hungry, but she dallied over her meal, wondering if she had best +go in and say good-night to miladi. She did not always; she quite +understood now that there were times when miladi did not care to see +her; then, at others, she sent for her. Now she would let her send. She +went up to her small chamber presently. The young moon was travelling +over westward with her attendant star. There were boats still out on the +river, merry voices, others in loud and angry dispute. Why did people +want to quarrel, when the world was so beautiful! Then a shrill cry of +some night bird, guards coming and going about the fort. She grew drowsy +presently, and went to bed, serene in the belief that M. Boullé would go +his way and torment her no more, for had not M. Ralph promised?</p> + +<p>M. Ralph and miladi were having a rather stormy time. She had inquired +very peremptorily what had kept him so late. Pani had been sent to the +warehouse and had not found him, neither had he been at the fort.</p> + +<p>M. Destournier was no hand to prevaricate. He lived an open, honest +life, and had few secrets beside those of business. Ordinarily, he would +have explained what he had been about the last two hours, but he had a +sudden premonition that it was wiser not to do so. Miladi was sometimes +captious where Rose was concerned.</p> + +<p>"I was busy," he made answer briefly.</p> + +<p>"M. Boullé goes to Tadoussac to-morrow. The vessel came down for him +to-day. Some urgent business requires his attention."</p> + +<p>"He has loitered quite long enough," commented her husband. "He is a +pleasant young fellow, but there is more than indolent pleasuring to a +young man's life."</p> + +<p>"He has had a purpose, a matter that lies near his heart. This new +country and the lack of fixed rules are demoralizing, and it will be a +good thing when there is a convent for the proper training of girls. But +lawless as Rose has grown, he has asked her in marriage. We wanted you +to ratify the consent I have given. He will make arrangements for the +marriage a few months hence."</p> + +<p>"You seem to think Rose has no voice in this."</p> + +<p>"Why should she have? Do we not stand in the place of parents? My father +chose M. Giffard, and he was presented to me as my future husband. No +well-bred girl makes any demur. But it seems that Mam'selle Rose has +some queer ideas, imbibed from heaven only knows where, that she must +experience a kind of overwhelming preference for a man, which would be +positively disgraceful in a young girl who has no right to consider love +until she is called upon to give it to her husband. It will be a most +excellent thing for her."</p> + +<p>There was a moment or two of silence. He was considering how best to +make his protest.</p> + +<p>"Well—why do you not reply?" tartly. "The young man is very ardent. She +can never do better."</p> + +<p>"She is but a child. There need be no haste. And if she does not +care——"</p> + +<p>"She is no longer a child. Fully fourteen, I think, and Mam'selle Boullé +was married younger that that."</p> + +<p>"And whether the Sieur would quite approve. There are some formalities +in old France which we have not shaken off. His parents are still +alive——"</p> + +<p>"And he is quite certain he can have the mystery about her fathomed. She +should go down on her knees to a man who would prove her honorably born, +even if he had no fortune. To-morrow morning he wants the matter +settled, and a betrothal, before he goes. If you know where she is, you +had better summon her and instruct her as to her duty. She is quite old +enough to understand. She has played the child too long already, and it +has spoiled her."</p> + +<p>"I will not have her betrothed against her will. She has no fancy for +marriage. And there will be time enough. If M. Boullé chooses to wait +until the Sieur returns, and he consents——"</p> + +<p>"She has always been a favorite of his," interrupted miladi. Then +suddenly—"Why are you so obstinate about it, when it will be such an +excellent thing for her?"</p> + +<p>"I am not obstinate about it, only as far as she is concerned. If she +desired it she should have my full and free consent. But I will not +insist upon a step she does not desire."</p> + +<p>"As if a girl knew what was best!" reiterated miladi scornfully. "And +why should you wish to keep her? Unless"—and now miladi's eyes flashed +fire—"unless——"</p> + +<p>"Do not say it!" He held up his hand forbiddingly.</p> + +<p>"I will say it! You are not her father, and it seems strange you should +have such an overwhelming fondness for her as to keep her from a most +excellent marriage, and persuade yourself that a woman grown can indulge +in all kinds of childish behavior, without detriment to her character. +If it is your fondness for her that stands in the way——"</p> + +<p>Miladi at that moment was in a jealous fury. The passion leaped to her +heart full-grown. She understood now why she half-feared, half-disliked +the child that she had once esteemed a pet and plaything. She had +supplanted her in her husband's affections. She had youth and beauty, +and miladi was fading, beside being years older than her husband, and +then never very well any more.</p> + +<p>"Hush!" exclaimed her husband, in a commanding tone. "I forbid you to +think of such a thing! When have I failed in my devotion to you? +To-morrow she shall have her choice, but she shall not be forced into +any promise beside her own wishes. And then I will find a new home for +her."</p> + +<p>He turned and went out of the room. Miladi pounded on the table before +her with her small fist, as if she could beat the life out of +something.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XIII" id="CHAPTER_XIII"></a>CHAPTER XIII</h2> + +<h3>FROM A GIRL'S HEART</h3> + + +<p>Rose stood looking over the wide expanse of the river to the opposite +shore, wondering a little. Down there, miles and miles below, were the +English settlements. The men, as traders, came to Quebec now and then. +Were the English women like the French? Were there young girls among +them? She was beginning to experience a peculiar loneliness, a want of +companionship, that no one about her could satisfy.</p> + +<p>"Madame Destournier wishes to see you," exclaimed Pani, who had been +sent on the errand.</p> + +<p>She went slowly to miladi's room, and entering it wished her +good-morning, with a dainty courtesy.</p> + +<p>"You will be needed for a matter in hand," began miladi, "about which I +desire to say a few words before the gentlemen come. It would have been +settled yesterday, but you were not to be found. Where were you?"</p> + +<p>Miladi asked it carelessly, so intent on the matter in hand that she did +not remark the color that flew up to the fair brow.</p> + +<p>"Out on the river," she answered briefly.</p> + +<p>"It is not proper for you to go alone. I have told you of this before. +You are a young woman, and with so many men roaming about, it is too +bold and unsafe, as well."</p> + +<p>"I am never in any danger."</p> + +<p>"You do not know. But then it is not proper."</p> + +<p>Rose made no reply to that. For some time miladi had not seemed to care +where she went. And she often did have Pani with her.</p> + +<p>There was a rather awkward silence. Rose was meditating an escape. Then +miladi began, in so severe a tone that every nerve within her quivered.</p> + +<p>"Yes, you were needed yesterday afternoon. M. Boullé came in and laid +before me a grave matter. You two seem to have wandered about in a +manner that would have scandalized a more civilized place, but there +appear to be no restrictions in this wilderness of savages. I have not +been able to watch over you as I should, and Wanamee does not +understand. Out of all this freedom, so unusual to a French maid, has +come a proposal of marriage, and this morning you are to be betrothed."</p> + +<p>"I? But I have not consented, Madame. I told M. Boullé yesterday that I +could not marry him, that I did not want to marry any one."</p> + +<p>"You will consider. Remember you are a foundling, with no name of +ancestry, no parents, that a man might refer to with pride when children +grow up about the family altar. It is not a thing to be quite satisfied +with, Mademoiselle, or proud of," and there was a sting in her tone. +"This man loves you so well that he is willing to overlook it and offer +you honorable marriage, which but few men would do. We have accepted him +for you. He returns to Tadoussac to-day, but the marriage day will be +settled and though you cannot have what I would wish, we will do our +best."</p> + +<p>The girl's face had changed from scarlet to deathly whiteness. Something +inside of her seemed to spring into a flame of knowledge, of womanhood, +and burn up grandly. That subtle chemistry that works in the girl's +soul, and transforms it, sometimes slowly, was in her case like the +sudden bursting of a bud into flowering. She was her own. She had said +this before; in a way, she had always felt it; but now it was graven +with a point of steel.</p> + +<p>"Madame," she began, in a tone she vainly strove to render steady, "only +yesterday I told M. Boullé I could not take the love he proffered me, +and make any return. And then I felt on a certain equality. I understand +better now. I am nameless, a rose of the wilderness, a foundling, as you +said. So I will marry no man who may be ashamed of me before his +children. Thank M. Boullé for the honor, and tell him——"</p> + +<p>The door opened, Destournier recalled one of the few plays he had seen +in Paris, with a tragedienne who had won a king's heart, and it seemed +almost as if this girl might step into fame, so proud and full of power +was she, standing there. Miladi had not been willing to wait for a +conference. But the result would have been the same.</p> + +<p>Both men looked at her in surprise, and were speechless for a moment. +Then M. Destournier, recovering, reached out and took the girl's slim, +nerveless hand.</p> + +<p>"Rose," he said, "M. Boullé has done us all the honor to ask your hand +in marriage. If you can accept him you will have our heartiest wishes +for your happiness; if you feel that you cannot, if no affection draws +you to him, then do not give him a cold, loveless heart in return. Make +your own choice; there is no one to compel you, no one to insist."</p> + +<p>"I thank you, M. Boullé, for the honor." She held her head up very +straight; it seemed as if she had grown since yesterday. Her eyes were +fearless in their high light, the delicious curves of her lips seemed +set as if they had been carved, instead of rosy flesh. "It is more than +the usual honor, I believe. I am a nameless foundling, and have been +handed about from one to another, and they were not the kind in whom one +could take pride. Therefore, I shall not bestow myself on any man, and +no one has any right to take advantage of his generosity. If I loved +you, I should do the same thing. How much more resolute I should be when +I do not love you, and would wed you simply for the sake of sheltering +myself under your name. I am sorry any one has considered this possible, +since it is not."</p> + +<p>Boullé took a step forward and grasped her hand, as he poured out a +torrent of ardent love. Miladi looked on, amazed. Was the girl made of +stone, or was her heart elsewhere? She made no appeal to M. Destournier, +indeed her face was turned a trifle from him.</p> + +<p>"You pain me," she said wearily, yet with a tender pity. "I can say no +more."</p> + +<p>"But I will wait," he pleaded.</p> + +<p>"My answer would always be the same."</p> + +<p>"Rose!" miladi exclaimed.</p> + +<p>"Madame Destournier, I thank you also for your kindness to a foundling, +and you, also," turning to M. Destournier, "for home and shelter, and +many other things. I feel now that since I have disappointed you I +cannot avail myself of your generosity any longer. I can find another +home——"</p> + +<p>She turned swiftly as a ray of light, and disappeared.</p> + +<p>"Have you no control over her?" cried Madame angrily, "that she defies +you to your face. It shows the blood that runs in her veins, wayward, +ungrateful thing that no honor can raise, no generosity touch. She has +the heart of a stone. M. Boullé, you have made a fortunate escape."</p> + +<p>"But I love her, Madame. And I thought her noble in her refusal, but I +would have taken her to my heart, no matter what she was. And I do not +quite despair. I may find some link that will rehabilitate her. She must +have come from a fine race. There is no peasant blood there."</p> + +<p>"Perhaps honorable peasant blood may be cleaner than a king's bastard," +returned miladi scornfully.</p> + +<p>"You have my most fervent sympathy," and M. Destournier wrung the +lover's hand. "But it would be ill work marrying a woman who did not +care for you. Perhaps another year"—should he give him hope? It was +such an honest, earnest face, and he would have been brave to set at +naught family tradition.</p> + +<p>They went down the winding stair together. Rose was nowhere to be seen.</p> + +<p>"Oh, you will watch over her?" M. Boullé cried, with a lover's +desperation.</p> + +<p>"Do not fear. She has been like a child to me. No harm shall come to +her."</p> + +<p>Miladi in her transport of rage tore the handkerchief she held in her +hand to shreds, and stamped her foot on the floor.</p> + +<p>"She shall never come in this house again, the deceitful, ungrateful +wretch. And he shall not care for her, or befriend her in any way. She +must love him, and it is no child's love, either. Why, I have been blind +and silly all this last year."</p> + +<p>Rose had flown out of the house, across the gardens and the settlement +to the woods, where she had spent so many delightful hours. She threw +herself down on the moss and the fragrant pine needles, and gave way to +a fit of weeping that seemed to rend both soul and body. Was she an +outcast? Oh, it could not be that M. Destournier would forsake her. But +she could ask nothing from him, and miladi would never see her again. +Why could she not have loved M. Boullé? Did it take so much love to be a +man's wife? to be held in his arms and kissed, to live with him day by +day—and she shuddered at the thought.</p> + +<p>But she was young, and the flood of tears subsided. She sat up, leaning +against a stout pine. Then she rose and peered about. Was it true that +M. Boullé was to go away? What if he came and found her again?</p> + +<p>She crawled out cautiously, and looked up at the sun. It had passed the +meridian. She was hungry, so she searched about and found some berries, +but she longed for something more substantial. For the first time +solitude seemed to pall upon her. She felt as if everything had been +swept away.</p> + +<p>Toward night she crept down to the settlement. Several of the Indian +women would take her in, she knew. There was Noko sitting just outside +her tent; she would not accept a cabin of logs or stone. She was making +a cape of gulls' feathers, that she might sell to some of the traders, +who often took curious Indian finery home with their furs. Her three +sons were trappers. One had a wife and three children that the poor +mother provided for, and when her brave came home, she was devoted to +him, grateful for a pleasant word. What curious ideas these aborigines +had of wedded love!</p> + +<p>"Noko, will you take me in for the night, and give me some supper?" she +asked, as she threw herself down beside the Indian woman, who, at +forty, looked at least sixty, and though she had the face of her tribe, +it was marked by a grave sort of pleasantness, and not the severity that +generally characterized middle life.</p> + +<p>"Has the Sieur gone to Tadoussac?"</p> + +<p>"Not that I know of. But I have offended miladi. And your wigwam is +always so clean, and there are no children."</p> + +<p>The woman shook her head with a sort of remonstrance.</p> + +<p>"You will have them of your own some day. When they are little, you will +care for them. They will be no trouble. When they are older, you will be +proud of them, and rejoice in their bravery. Then they go away, and +forget."</p> + +<p>She began to put up her work. "Are you in earnest?" she asked. "Do you +need shelter?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, the Gaudrions would take me in, but there is such a crowd, I am for +a little quiet and solitude to-night."</p> + +<p>"Thou shalt have it. The Sieur has been good to me. But it is hardly +wise to quarrel with one's home."</p> + +<p>"There was no quarrel. Miladi wanted me to do something that I could +not. And you know I have no real claim upon them, Noko, I belong to +Quebec, not to any person."</p> + +<p>She gave a little laugh that sounded almost shrill. There was not so +much joy in belonging only to one's self.</p> + +<p>"To Quebec, yes."</p> + +<p>"Now let me kindle the fire. See how handy I can be. And to-morrow I can +help you with that beautiful cape. I suppose the great ladies in Paris +feel very grand in some of these things. I heard the Governor say that a +great deal of money was paid for a deerskin dress by some one at court. +It was worked beautifully, and as soft as velvet."</p> + +<p>Rose busied herself in her eager, graceful fashion. Noko broiled some +deer steak on the coals, and had a stew made of various things, with +fish for the foundation. Rose was not very partial to this, but the +steak and the cakes made of rye and corn, and well browned, tasted good +to the hungry girl. There was a tea made of herbs, which had a +delightful fragrance.</p> + +<p>Afterward they sat in the doorway, and one and another came to give Noko +a bit of gossip. Rose crept off to bed presently. How fragrant the fresh +balsam of fir was, and the tired girl soon fell asleep.</p> + +<p>M. Destournier had been quite engrossed with a few forgotten things that +had to go to Tadoussac. Then the vessel pushed off and he turned to the +storehouse. Presently a load would go to France. Though he was +mechanically busy, his thoughts turned to Rose. She must have another +home. He had wondered more than once how it had come to pass that miladi +had lost so many of her charms, yet grown so much more exacting. He had +awakened to the fact that he had never been a rapturous lover. He paid +Eustache Boullé all honor that he had proved so manly and brave, yet in +his secret heart he felt glad that Rose had not loved him. Why, he could +not tell, except that she was too young. And he wondered how much miladi +had loved Laurent Giffard. How much was she capable of loving? And the +sweet angel-like Hélène, who had willingly crossed the ocean and exiled +herself from the life she loved to these uncongenial surroundings. They +were that for a woman.</p> + +<p>When business was through with, he made his way down to M. Hébert's. +Though the man had been bred an apothecary, and had a wider education +than many in a higher round, he was making an excellent and enthusiastic +farmer. Madame Hébert had brought some of the old-world knowledge and +frugality with her, and put them in practice, bringing up her daughters +to habits of industry, while the son was equally well trained by the +father.</p> + +<p>M. Hébert was busy with his young fruit trees. Every year he sent for +some hardy kind, and had quite a variety. He was a colonist, which so +few of the emigrants were.</p> + +<p>After a walk about the garden, they went in to see Madame Hébert and +Thérèse, who was making lace. Then M. Destournier preferred his request +that they would take Rose for a while. He did not hint at any +disagreement. Madame Destournier's health was precarious, and she had +little idea of what was necessary for a girl, having been +convent-trained herself. Now that Madame de Champlain had gone there +was no real companionship for Rose, who was surely outgrowing her +childish fancies.</p> + +<p>"How would you like it, Thérèse?" asked her mother.</p> + +<p>Thérèse was a solid dark-eyed, dark-haired, rather heavy-looking girl, +without the French vivacity and eagerness. Destournier smiled inwardly; +he could hardly fancy their being companions; yet in a way, each might +benefit the other.</p> + +<p>"Why—if you approved. Though I am never lonely," raising her eyes to +the visitor.</p> + +<p>"Rose is quite given to rambling about. She haunts the woods, she is +fond of canoeing, and I think she has quite a mind for study. I am sorry +there are so few opportunities. Our good fathers seem to frown on +everything but prayers."</p> + +<p>"Prayers are good, but there must be work, as well," said Madame Hébert, +who had been brought up a Huguenot, and who thought conventual life a +great waste.</p> + +<p>"I should like the change for her. It may not be for long, but it would +be a favor. And you need not feel that you must devote a great deal of +time and energy to her, but give her the shelter of a home, until +matters change a little," with a hopeful accent in his voice, and a +smile that had the same aspect.</p> + +<p>"Madame Destournier is not well?" in a tone of inquiry.</p> + +<p>"No. She should have gone to France with the Sieur and his wife, but it +was thought she had not the strength to stand the sea voyage. I feel +much troubled about her."</p> + +<p>Madame Hébert was sympathetic, but she had never admired the wife as +much as she did the husband. She was too volatile in the early days, and +held her head quite too high.</p> + +<p>It was arranged that Rose should be an inmate of the Hébert home for a +month or two. It was such a comfortable, cheerful-looking place. There +was a set of bookshelves, and no one beside the Governor owned more than +a prayer-book, which did little good, since they could hardly read in +their own language.</p> + +<p>M. Ralph did not go at once to his wife, but stopped in the kitchen. +Mawha was brewing some herbs. Wanamee entered with a plate on which +there was some wheaten toast.</p> + +<p>"She will not take it. She does nothing but fret for Monsieur, and say +dreadful things about <i>ma fille</i>"—then she stopped in a fright, seeing +her master.</p> + +<p>"Where is Rose?" he asked.</p> + +<p>"She has not been here all day. I sent Pani to look for her, but he has +not returned."</p> + +<p>M. Destournier went to his wife's room. She was hysterical and +unreasonable.</p> + +<p>"Promise me that such a miserable, deceitful thing as that girl is shall +never enter this house," she cried. "I cannot breathe the same air with +her. You must choose between us. If you keep to her, I shall know you +have no love for me. I will kill myself."</p> + +<p>"Marguerite, calm yourself. Rose is not to remain here, but go to the +Héberts. So you will have quiet and nothing to do but recover your +health. And if you can get well enough, we will go to Montreal, as I +have to transact some business. The change will do you good."</p> + +<p>"You will not take her?"</p> + +<p>"No, no. Now let the girl alone. She is provided for, and you have the +two women at your service."</p> + +<p>"She did nothing for me. And after roaming the woods and canoeing with +M. Boullé, she should have been glad to marry him, for decency's sake."</p> + +<p>"We will let her quite alone," he exclaimed authoritatively. "Why did +you not eat some supper?"</p> + +<p>"I couldn't. Oh, Ralph, be kind to me. Do not let that girl steal your +love from me. I was quite as pretty in youth, but the years are hard on +one. And I need your love more than ever. You are not tender and +caressing as Laurent was."</p> + +<p>He bent over and kissed her, smoothed her tangled hair, and patted the +hot cheek.</p> + +<p>"I have been busy all day, and have had no supper," he began, loosening +the hands about his neck.</p> + +<p>She sobbed wildly. She had been so lonely all day. She missed M. Boullé +so much. He would have been a son to them.</p> + +<p>He had to tear himself away. He did not take his supper, but rushed out +to make inquiries. Where had Rose gone? Was she wandering about the +woods? There had been wolves, stray Indians, and a dozen dangers. The +palisade gates were fastened. He asked at two or three of the cabins, +where he knew she was a favorite. And where was Pani?</p> + +<p>Pani was asleep on a soft couch of moss, under a clump of great oak +trees. He had lain down, warm and tired, and his nap was good for ten or +twelve hours.</p> + +<p>"I saw her by Noko's wigwam," said a woman, as she heard him inquiring.</p> + +<p>Not even waiting to thank her, he rushed thither. Noko had the +reputation of being a sort of seer, though she seldom used her gift. She +sat on the stone beside her door, and a woman knelt before her, to whom +she was talking in a low monotonous tone. His step startled the +listener, and she sprang up.</p> + +<p>"Whither did Rose go?" he asked peremptorily, seizing Noko's arm.</p> + +<p>"She is here, Monsieur. She is in bed asleep. There is trouble and the +fair-haired woman hates her. You had better not try to make them agree. +And she has no love for the dark-haired suitor who is on the river, +dreaming of her. She is too young. Let her alone."</p> + +<p>"I wanted to know that she was safe. I will see her in the morning. Keep +her until I come."</p> + +<p>"Yes, Monsieur."</p> + +<p>Madame Destournier had wept herself to sleep, and was breathing in +comparative tranquillity. Ralph sat down beside the bed. If Rose had +loved Eustache Boullé, the way would have been smooth as a summer sea. +Was he sorry, or mysteriously glad? Why should he be glad? he demanded +of himself.</p> + +<p>Rose made no demur the next morning when M. Destournier told her of the +new arrangements, only stipulating that she should have her liberty, to +go and come as she pleased.</p> + +<p>"Are you very angry because I could not take M. Boullé for a husband?" +she inquired timidly.</p> + +<p>"Oh, no, no. It was your life, Mademoiselle, for sorrow or joy. You only +had the right to choose."</p> + +<p>The bronze lashes quivered sensitively upon her cheeks, and a soft flush +seemed to tangle itself among them.</p> + +<p>"Is it joy, M'sieu?" in a low tone.</p> + +<p>"It ought to be."</p> + +<p>"Then I shall wait until there comes a touch of joy greater than any I +have yet known. And I have had thrills of delight that have gone all +through my body, but they faded. The love for a husband should last +one's whole life."</p> + +<p>"Yes, Mademoiselle. Why not?"</p> + +<p>All the white tones of her skin flushed to rose, and crept even among +the tendrils of her hair and over her small ears. Had he ever remarked +how perfect they were before?</p> + +<p>"<i>Ma fille</i>," he responded softly. "And you will be content until better +times."</p> + +<p>"So long as I do not have to marry, yes."</p> + +<p>"That is a good <i>fille</i>. I shall see you now and then. You will like M. +Hébert. He has plenty of books, and it will be a good practice to read +up French."</p> + +<p>She nodded.</p> + +<p>He took a second thought.</p> + +<p>"You may as well go now, and I will see that all is fair sailing. Noko, +thanks for keeping Rose of Quebec where neither wolves nor marauders +could get at her."</p> + +<p>They walked quietly along, she with her agile step, that gave graceful +turns to her figure. She was hardly a woman, and yet more than a child. +But she kept the sweet simplicity of the latter.</p> + +<p>Madame Hébert gave her a pleasant welcome. Thérèse glanced up from her +lace work and nodded, hoping in a formal and quite ungirlish manner that +she would be happy with them. Rose sat down beside her, and looked at +the lace. There were pins stuck in a cushion and Thérèse threw her +thread over this one and that one. How queer it looked.</p> + +<p>"But if you should go wrong?" she inquired.</p> + +<p>"Here is the pattern. This is quite simple. I have one very intricate, +but handsome, like they make at home, Maman says. And one with beads. I +took the idea from an Indian woman. I have some finished work, too."</p> + +<p>"I have done a little of that. Miladi, that is Madame Destournier, used +to do embroidery. At first she had such a store of pretty things. But +now they cost so much. Only there are always packs of furs to exchange."</p> + +<p>M. Hébert came in, with a pleasant word for his guest. They were +extremely sorry that Madame was ill, but it gave them the pleasure of a +visit from Rose. M. Destournier said she was fond of reading; he had +some poets, and books on gardening, out of which he made poetry, smiling +with French gayety.</p> + +<p>On the whole, Rose liked the exchange. For a few days it seemed rather +stiff, but there were so many new things, and M. Hébert liked a good +listener. She walked about the garden with him. There were some rare +flowers, of which he was very proud, and several he had found in the +woods. Then there was a bed of herbs, and he distilled remedies, as well +as some delightful perfumes. He soon grew quite fond of the pretty girl +who was so interested in his pursuits, and fond of hearing him read +aloud, and though his wife and children listened amiably, their thoughts +were more on their work. Industry was Madame Hébert's cardinal virtue, +and her daughter was a girl after her own heart.</p> + +<p>But this fresh young creature to whom a marvellous world was being +opened, who watched with eager eyes, who smiled or was saddened, who was +sympathetic or indignant, who flushed or paled with the pain of tragedy, +how charming she was!</p> + +<p>She often ran up to the old home for a word with Wanamee, who was glad +to see her. Miladi was neither better nor worse, some days so irritable +that nothing could please her.</p> + +<p>"She would keep M. Destournier beside her all the time," said Wanamee, +"but a man has business. He is not meant for a nurse, and to yield to +every whim. She is not a happy woman, miladi, and one hardly knows how +much of her illness is imaginary. If she would only brighten up and go +out a little, I think she would be better."</p> + +<p>Rose used her strongest efforts to induce Thérèse to take a ramble with +her. She did go to the woods occasionally, but she took her work along, +always.</p> + +<p>"Why do you keep so closely to it?" Rose asked one day.</p> + +<p>"Mam'selle, part is for my trousseau. Maman instructed me in the fashion +of her old home, where girls begin to fill up a chest, to be ready."</p> + +<p>"Oh, Thérèse, have you a lover?"</p> + +<p>"<i>Non.</i>" Thérèse shook her head. "But I may have, some day. There will +be people, men sent over to settle New France. The King has promised."</p> + +<p>"Did you see M. Boullé, when he was here?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, yes. And a nice young man he is, too."</p> + +<p>"I wish he had wanted to marry you. He is nice and good to look at. How +could one marry Pierre Gaudrion, with his low brow and fierce eyebrows +that meet over his nose, and his great hands, that seem made of lead, if +he lays them on you! Yet he is smart and ingenious."</p> + +<p>"And they say now that he visits Anastase Fromont. She will make a good +wife."</p> + +<p>Rose gave a little shiver. She could recall one time, the last, when +Pierre had laid his hand on both her shoulders and drawn her to him, and +she had wrenched herself away, every drop of blood within her rising up +in protest.</p> + +<p>"Don't you dare to touch me again, or I will kill you," she had flung +out with blazing eyes.</p> + +<p>Then for weeks he had never so much as looked at her.</p> + +<p>"Yes," retrospectively. "Why do people take likes the wrong way? Now if +M. Boullé had——"</p> + +<p>"It is said he was wild for love of you," interposed Thérèse.</p> + +<p>"That made the trouble. Miladi liked him so much. Thérèse, there is some +kind of love we must have before you can put yourself in a man's hand, +and let him take you to his home, where you must remain while life +lasts. A whole long life, think of it! And if you wanted to get free the +priest would forbid it. There would be nothing but to throw yourself +into the river."</p> + +<p>Thérèse looked with frightened eyes at the impetuous girl.</p> + +<p>"There is God to obey and serve. And if He sends you a good husband—M. +Boullé was brother to our dear Sieur's wife. It would have been an +excellent marriage."</p> + +<p>"If it hadst only been thou!" Rose's short-lived passion was over, and +she was smiling.</p> + +<p>"But you see, Mam'selle, they are strong Catholics. I follow my mother's +faith, and we do not believe telling beads and saying prayers is all of +the true service to the Lord. So it would never have done."</p> + +<p>Rose was minded to laugh at the grave, satisfied tone, and the placid +face.</p> + +<p>"I am not a good Catholic, either. I do not go to confession. I do not +tell lies nor steal, and though I get in tempers, it is because people +try me and insist that I should do what I know it would be wrong for me +to do. I did not want any husband, and I said so."</p> + +<p>"But all girls hope to marry some time. I should like to have as good a +husband as my mother has, and be as happy with him."</p> + +<p>"He is delightful," admitted Rose. "But your mother loved him."</p> + +<p>"He was chosen for her, and there was no good reason why she should not +accept him. Yes, they have been very happy. But in France girls do not +have a voice, and when the husband is chosen, they set themselves about +making every act and thought of theirs agreeable."</p> + +<p>"But if he was—unworthy?"</p> + +<p>"Few parents would choose an unworthy lover, I think. They have the good +of their children at heart."</p> + +<p>Eustache Boullé had not been unworthy. He would have married her, +nameless. Her heart turned suddenly tender toward him. She was learning +that in the greater world there was a certain pride of birth, an honor +in being well-born. She was better satisfied that she had not accepted +Eustache. What if the Sieur had been opposed to it and Madame de +Champlain frowned upon her?</p> + +<p>And then the Sieur returned, but he came alone. The house in the Rue St. +Germain l'Auxerrois, with Madame Boullé, was more attractive than the +roughness of a half-civilized country. Even then Hélène plead for +permission to become a lay sister in a convent, which would have meant a +separation, but he would not agree to this. Ten years after his death +she entered the Ursuline Convent, and some years later founded one in +the town of Meaux, endowing it with most of her fortune. And though the +next summer Eustache renewed his suit, he met with a firm refusal, and +found the influence of his brother-in-law was against him.</p> + +<p>Rose had been brave enough to lay the matter before him.</p> + +<p>"Little one," he said, in the most fatherly tone—"if thou dost not love +a man enough to give him thy whole soul, except what belongs to God, to +desire to spend thy life with him, to honor and serve him with the best +thou hast, then do not marry him. It is a bitter thing for a man to go +hungry for love, when a woman has promised to hold the cup of joy to his +lips."</p> + +<p>Eustache then returned to France, and after a period of study and +preparation, took holy orders, as a Friar.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XIV" id="CHAPTER_XIV"></a>CHAPTER XIV</h2> + +<h3>A WAY OVER THORNS</h3> + + +<p>Champlain found on his arrival five Jesuit priests, who had received a +poor welcome, even from their French brethren. The Récollets had offered +them the hospitality of their convent, which had been gratefully +accepted. So far not much advance had been made among the Indians, who +seemed incapable of discerning the spiritual side of religion, though +they eagerly caught up any superstition.</p> + +<p>There had also come over a number of emigrants, two or three families, +the others, men of no high degree, who had been tempted by the lure of a +speedy fortune. It was a long, hard, cold winter, and throngs of Indians +applied for relief. Champlain had established a farm at Beaupré, down +the river, and stocked it with cattle he had imported. But for weeks +everything was half-buried in snow.</p> + +<p>One morning M. Destournier came in. Rose was sitting by the fire in M. +Hébert's study and shop. The great fireplace was full of blazing logs, +and she looked the picture, not only of comfort, but delight. She had +not seen much of him for the month past. There was no opportunity for +sledging even, the roads had been so piled with snow. Then she had +taken quite a domestic turn, much to the gratification of Madame Hébert.</p> + +<p>M. Destournier looked thin and careworn. Rose sprang up, deeply touched.</p> + +<p>"Oh, you are ill," she cried. "I have not seen you in so long. Sit here +in the warmth. And miladi?"</p> + +<p>She always inquired after her.</p> + +<p>"That is what I have come about. Rose, my dear child, can you forget +enough of the past, and the long silence, to come back to us? Miladi +wants you, needs you, has sent me to see. She is very ill, and lonely."</p> + +<p>Rose flushed warmly, with both pain and pleasure, and her eyes softened, +almost to tears.</p> + +<p>"I shall be glad to come." There was a tremble of emotion in her voice. +"I realize how great a disappointment it was to her, but you know I was +right, and when I asked the Sieur if I had been too hasty, or unjust, he +approved. He thinks no woman ought to marry without giving her whole +heart, and somehow I had none to give," blushing deeply and looking +lovelier than ever. "I think it is because—because I am a foundling, +and could not go to any man with honor. So I must make myself happy in +my own way."</p> + +<p>Her figure had taken on more womanly lines, though it was still slim and +exquisitely graceful. And the girlish beauty had ripened somewhat, +losing none of its olden charm.</p> + +<p>She colored still more deeply under his glance.</p> + +<p>"Is there anything new with miladi?" she inquired, with some hesitation.</p> + +<p>"It seems a gradual wasting away and weakness. She thinks she will be +better when spring opens, and longs to return to France. I am putting my +affairs in shape to make this possible. She is very lonely. She has +missed your brightness and vivacity. It has seemed a different place."</p> + +<p>Rose's heart swelled with pity. She forgave Madame from the depths of +her heart, remembering only the old times and the tenderness.</p> + +<p>"When shall I come?"</p> + +<p>"At once. She begged for you last week, but I was afraid it was a +restless fancy. The road is quite well broken. What a winter we have +had! The drought last summer shortened crops, and there have been so +many extra mouths to feed among the unfortunate Indians. So if you will +inform the Héberts—I have seen Monsieur."</p> + +<p>She went through to the kitchen, where mother and daughter were +concocting savory messes for the sick. They both returned with her and +expressed much sympathy for the invalid. M. Hébert had said to his wife +that miladi was slowly nearing her end, while her real disease seemed a +mystery, but medical lore in the new world had not made much advance.</p> + +<p>"We shall only lend her to you for a while," Madame Hébert said, with a +faint smile. "I hardly know how Monsieur will do without her. She is +truly a rose-bloom in this dreary winter, that seems as if it would +never end."</p> + +<p>"And I want her to bloom for a while in the room where my poor sick wife +has to stay. She longs for some freshness and sweetness," he said, in a +pleading tone.</p> + +<p>"She was rightly named," said Madame, with a smile. "Her poor mother +must have died, I am quite sure, for she could not have sent away such +an adorable child. Even when Mère Dubray had her, she was charming, in +her wild, eager ways, like a bird. The good God made her a living Rose, +indeed, to show how lovely a human Rose could be."</p> + +<p>She came in the room wrapped in her furs, her hood with its border of +silver-fox framing in her face, that glowed with youth and health.</p> + +<p>"You have all been so good to me," and her beautiful eyes were alight +with gratitude. "I shall come in often, and oh, I shall think of you +every hour in the day."</p> + +<p>"Do not forget the latest pattern of lace-making," added the practical, +industrious Thérèse.</p> + +<p>It was glorious without, a white world with a sky of such deep blue it +almost sparkled. Leafless trees stretched out long black or gray arms, +and here and there a white birch stood up grandly, like some fair +goddess astray. Stretches of evergreens suggested life, but beyond them +hills of snow rising higher and higher, until they seemed lost in the +blue, surmounted by a sparkling frost line.</p> + +<p>The paths had been beaten down—occasionally a tract around a doorway +shovelled. It was hard and smooth as a floor. Destournier slipped her +arm within his, and then gazed at her in surprise.</p> + +<p>"You must have grown. How tall you are. I wonder if I shall get +accustomed to the new phase? I seem always to see the little girl who +sat upon my knee. Oh, do you remember when you were ill at Mère +Dubray's?"</p> + +<p>"All my life comes to me in pictures. I sometimes think I can remember +what was before the long sail in the boat, but it is so vague. Now it is +all here, its rough ways, its rocks, its beautiful river are a part of +me. I am never longing to go elsewhere. I am sorry Madame de Champlain +did not love it as well. And the Sieur was such a good, tender husband."</p> + +<p>Destournier sighed a little, also. The Sieur kept busy and full of +plans, but occasionally there came a wistfulness in his eyes and a pain +in the lines that were settling so rapidly about his face.</p> + +<p>They crunched over the icy paths. A time or two she slipped, and he drew +her nearer, the touch of her body, though wrapped in its furs, giving +him a delicious thrill. He lifted her up the steep ways he had seen her +climb with the litheness of a squirrel.</p> + +<p>Wanamee came out with a fervent welcome. The old kitchen was the same. +Pani was toasting himself in his favorite corner. Mawha was doing Indian +bead and feather work, and looked up with a cordial nod.</p> + +<p>"Get good and warm. I will tell miladi you have come. You will find her +much changed, but she does not like it remarked upon."</p> + +<p>She and Wanamee were in an earnest talk when she was summoned. The room +had in it some new appointments, brought from France, but even a +luxurious court beauty might have envied the rich fur rugs lying about +and hanging over the rude and somewhat clumsy chairs of home +manufacture.</p> + +<p>Pillowed up in a half-sitting posture in the bed was miladi. Rose could +hardly forbear a shocked exclamation. When she had seen her every day, +the changes had passed unremarked, for they had begun, even then. The +lovely skin was yellowed and wrinkled and defined the cheek bones, the +beautiful hair had grown dull, and the eyes had lost their lustre. All +her youth was gone, she was an old lady, even before the time.</p> + +<p>And this vision of youthful, vigorous beauty was like a sudden sunburst, +when the day had been dull and cloudy. She seemed to animate the room, +to light up the farthest recesses, to bring a breath of revivifying air +and hope.</p> + +<p>"I have wanted you so," the invalid said piteously. "Oh, how strong and +well you are! I never was very strong, and so the illness has taken a +deeper hold on me. And now you must help me to get well. Your freshness +will be an elixir—that is what I have wanted. Wanamee is good for a +servant nurse, but I have needed something finer and better."</p> + +<p>She held out her hand and Rose pressed it to her lips. It was bony, +showing swollen blue veins, and had a clammy coldness that struck a +chill to the rosy lips.</p> + +<p>"Did you like them at the Héberts? They are very staid people, and think +only of work, I believe."</p> + +<p>"They were very kind, and I found them well-informed about everything."</p> + +<p>"Why, when they know so much, can they not cure me? You know it is not +as though my case was very serious. I am weak, that is all. The doctor +came down from Tadoussac, but he just shook his head, and his powders +did me no good. M. Hébert sent some extracts of herbs, but nothing gives +me any strength. And the snow and cold stays on as if spring would never +come. What have you been doing all this while? You couldn't run about in +the woods."</p> + +<p>"Oh, Madame, I am outgrowing that wild longing, though the trees have a +hundred voices, and I seem to understand what they say, and the song of +the birds, the ripple and plash of the river. But I have been learning +other things. How great the world is, and the stories of kings and +queens, and brave travellers, who go about and discover new places. It +widens one's subjects of thought. And I have learned some cooking, and +how to make home seem cheerful, and the weaving of pretty laces, like +those the ships bring over. I am not so idle now."</p> + +<p>"And you liked them very much?" She uttered this rather resentfully.</p> + +<p>"Ah, Madame, how could one help, when people were so good, and took so +much pains with one."</p> + +<p>Her voice was sweet and appealing, yet it had a strand of strength and +appreciation. But had <i>she</i> not been good to the little girl all these +years!</p> + +<p>"Has Mam'selle Thérèse any lover?" she asked, after a pause.</p> + +<p>"Not yet, Madame. Some old family friends are to come over in the +summer, and one has a son that Thérèse played with in childhood. It may +be that she will like him."</p> + +<p>"And she will do as her parents desire!"</p> + +<p>"They are very just with her, and love her dearly."</p> + +<p>"And the brother?"</p> + +<p>"He went to Mont Réal before the hard cold. If there were only people to +settle there it would be finer than Quebec, it is said."</p> + +<p>"I am so tired of Quebec. Next summer we will go home; that is the +country for me. M. Destournier is willing to go at last, and I shall see +that he never returns to this dreary hole."</p> + +<p>"It can hardly be called a hole, when there are so many heights all +about," laughed the girl.</p> + +<p>"It is a wretched place. And you will soon like France, and wonder how +people are content to stay here. You see the Governor's wife had enough +of it. She had good sense."</p> + +<p>"But, Madame, the priests teach that a wife's place is beside her +husband."</p> + +<p>"What have I gained by staying beside mine, who is always planning how +to civilize those wretched squaws, and make life better for them? The +better should have been for me. And now I have lost my health, and my +beautiful hair has fallen out and begins to turn white. Am I very much +changed?"</p> + +<p>Rose was embarrassed. Years ago miladi hated the thoughts of growing +old.</p> + +<p>"Illness tries one very much," she said evasively. "But you will gain it +up when you begin to mend."</p> + +<p>"Oh, do you think so? You see I must get something to restore the wasted +flesh. How plump you are. And I had such an admirable figure. M. Laurent +thought me the most graceful girl he had ever seen, had so many pretty +compliments, and that keeps one in heart, spurs one on to new efforts. +M. Destournier is not of that kind. He is cold-blooded, and seems more +English than French."</p> + +<p>Rose colored. The dispraise hurt her.</p> + +<p>"Fix my pillows, and put me down. I get so tired. And stir up the fire."</p> + +<p>Rose did this very gently, smoothing out wrinkles, holding the cold +hands in hers, so warm and full of strength. The room seemed smothering +to her, but she stirred the fire vigorously, and sent a vivid shower of +sparks upward.</p> + +<p>"Now if you had a little broth——"</p> + +<p>"But I cannot bear to have you go away. Yes, I know I shall get stronger +with you here."</p> + +<p>"You need some nourishment. I will not be gone long," giving a heartsome +smile.</p> + +<p>A gallery ran along this side of the house, built for miladi's +convenience. She stepped out on it, in the clear air and sunshine, and +took a few turns. Poor Madame! Would she get well when she seemed so +near dying?</p> + +<p>The broth was reviving. Rose fed her with a teaspoon, instead of giving +her the cup to drink from, and they both laughed like children. Then she +arranged the pillows and bathed the poor, wrinkled face and hair with +some fragrant water, and miladi fell asleep under these ministrations.</p> + +<p>Rose moved lightly about the room, changing its aspect with deft +touches. She was glad to do something in return. Miladi had been very +sweet when she was ill, and there had been the pleasant years when she +had not minded the exactions. Was there really a plan to go to France? +Would they take her from her beloved Quebec?</p> + +<p>M. Destournier brought in a book from the Governor's store and Rose read +aloud in the evening. That was a restless time for miladi, but the +sweet, cheerful voice tranquillized her. M. Ralph sat in the corner of +the wide stone fireplace, watching the changes in the lovely face, as +she seemed to enter into the spirit of the adventures. Heroism appealed +to her. The flush came and went in her cheek, her eyes sent out gleams +of glory, and her bosom rose and fell.</p> + +<p>There came an instant of rapture to Ralph Destournier, that mysterious +and almost sublime appreciation of a woman's love, a love such as this +girl could give. He had possessed the childish affection, the innocent +girlish fondness, but some other would win the woman's heart, the prize +he would lay down his life for. What had been the pity and weak +tenderness was given to the woman in the bed yonder. He knew now she had +only touched his heart in sympathy, and a fancied duty. In a thousand +years she would never be capable of such love as this girl, blossoming +into womanhood, could give.</p> + +<p>"There should be some women at hand," declared a weak voice from the +bed. "It adds an interest to the discoveries, to think, if a woman did +not inspire it, she crowned it with her admiration. But for a party of +men to go off alone——"</p> + +<p>"The hardships would be too great for a woman."</p> + +<p>Destournier's voice was husky with repressed emotion. This girl would +keep step and inspire an explorer.</p> + +<p>"They would not take so many hardships then. What if there is a great +river or ocean leading to India! A man can live but one life, and that +should be devoted to some woman."</p> + +<p>He rose, crossed the room, and kissed his wife on the forehead. He +learned by accident one day that she used something to keep her lips red +with the lost bloom of youth, and they had never been sweet to him +since.</p> + +<p>"Good-night. I hope you will sleep. Rose had better not read any more. +We must not have all the good things in one day."</p> + +<p>He ran down the steps to where a street had been straightened and +widened in the summer. The moonlight gave everything a weird glow, the +stars were tinted in all colors, as one finds in the clear cold of the +north. Only the planets and the larger ones, the myriad of small ones +were outshone. What beauty, what strength, what wonders lay hidden in +the wide expanse. He was tempted to plunge into the wilderness, to the +frozen north, to the blooming south, or that impenetrable expanse of the +west, and leave behind the weak woman, who in her selfish way loved him, +and the girl who could create a new life for him, that he could love +with the force of manhood suddenly aroused, that had been clean and +wholesome. He was glad of that, though he could not lay it at the girl's +feet. Miladi had been in this state so long, sometimes rallying, and in +the summer they would go to France. But they would leave Rose of old +Quebec behind.</p> + +<p>Over there at the fort a man sat poring over maps and papers, a +solitary man now, who had wedded youth and beauty, and found only Dead +Sea fruit. But he was going bravely on his way. That was a man's duty.</p> + +<p>In a few days there was a decided improvement in miladi. She was +dressed, and sat up part of the time. She evinced an eager resolve to +get well, she put on a sort of childish brightness, that was at times +pitiful. But nothing could conceal the ravages of time. She looked older +than her years. She was, in a curious manner, drawing on the vitality of +the young girl, and it was generously given.</p> + +<p>Then came to Rose a great sorrow. M. Hébert, who had been such an +inspiring influence to her, died from the effects of a fall. There was a +general mourning in the small settlement. The Governor felt he had lost +one of his most trusty friends. The eldest daughter, Guillemette, who +had married one Guillaume Couillard, came down from Tadoussac, and they +took his place on the farm. Hers had been the first wedding in Quebec.</p> + +<p>Rose felt that this must change the home for her. She had counted on +going back to them. There were days when she grew very tired of miladi's +whims and inanities, and longed to fly to her beloved wood.</p> + +<p>"If I should die, he will marry her," miladi thought continually. "I +will not die. I will take her to France and marry her to some one before +her beauty fades. She will make a sensation."</p> + +<p>Rose never dreamed she was so closely watched. After that moonlight +battle with himself, Destournier allowed his soul no further thought of +the present Rose, but dreamed over the frank child-charm she had +possessed for him. He grew grave and silent, and spent much of his time +with the Sieur.</p> + +<p>Spring was very late. It seemed as if old Quebec would never throw off +her ermine mantle. Richelieu was now at the helm in France, and that +country and England were at war with each other. Quebec was looking +forward to supplies and reinforcements that had been promised.</p> + +<p>From a cold and unusually dry May, they went into summer heats. The +Sieur de Champlain spent much of his time getting his farm at Cape +Tourmente in order. M. Destournier was engrossed with the improvements +of the town, and keeping the Indians at work, who were, it must be +confessed, notoriously lazy. Miladi complained. Rose grew weary. She +missed her dear friend M. Hébert, and she was puzzled at the coldness +and distance of M. Destournier. But the rambles were a comfort and a +kind of balance to her life. She brought wild flowers to miladi, and the +first scarlet strawberries. And there was always such an enchanting +freshness after these excursions, that the elder woman liked her to take +them.</p> + +<p>Richelieu understood better than any one yet the importance of this +colony to France, when the English were making such rapid strides in the +new world. He was planning extensive improvements in colonizing, and +fitting out ships with stores and men.</p> + +<p>The news came to Cape Tourmente that vessels had been sighted. Word was +sent on to Quebec, and there was a general rejoicing.</p> + +<p>But it was soon turned to terror and anguish. Some savages came paddling +furiously to the town, and though the cries were indistinguishable at +first, they soon gathered force.</p> + +<p>"The English have burned and pillaged Cape Tourmente, and are at +Tadoussac! Save yourselves. Man the fort. Call all to arms!"</p> + +<p>Alas! The fort was considerably out of repair. The Indians had been +peaceable for some time and the mother country had kept them short of +supplies. The walled settlement was protection from marauding bands, and +the fort could have been made impregnable if the Governor had carried +out his plans and not been hampered by the lack of all-needed +improvements.</p> + +<p>The farmer at Cape Tourmente had been slightly wounded, and was brought +down with the boat, on which several had escaped. The buildings had been +burned, the cattle killed, the crops laid waste. No doubt they were now +pillaging Tadoussac.</p> + +<p>Champlain began to prepare for defense with all the force available. +Muskets were loaded, cannon trained down the river, the fort manned. +Friendly Indians offered their services. All was wild alarm, the blow +was so unexpected.</p> + +<p>Miladi, hearing the noise and confusion, explained it her way.</p> + +<p>"It is always so when the horde of traders come in," she said. She had +been looking over old finery, and getting ready for a return to France.</p> + +<p>The little convent on the St. Charles was prepared to repel any +surprise. But at mid-afternoon a boat hovered about in the river, and it +was learned presently that it conveyed some captives taken by the +English, who were sent with a letter from the commander of the fleet, +that now appeared quite formidable, with its six well-manned vessels.</p> + +<p>The Governor at once called together the leading men of the place and +laid before them the summons of surrender, and the first news of the war +between France and England. It was couched in polite terms, but +contained a well-laid plan. In all, eighteen ships had been despatched +by His Majesty, the King of Britain. Several small stations had been +captured, also a boat with supplies from France, and all resources were +to be cut off. By surrendering they would save their homes and property, +and be treated with the utmost courtesy, but it was the intention of the +English to take the town, although they preferred to do it without +bloodshed.</p> + +<p>It was quite a lengthy document, and Champlain read it slowly, that each +sentence might be well considered. The hard winter, the late spring, the +supplies at Cape Tourmente and Tadoussac being cut off, rendered them in +no situation for a prolonged struggle. But they would not yield so +easily to the demand of the English. They had the courage of men who had +undergone many hardships, and the pride of their nation. Quebec had been +the child of the Sieur de Champlain's work and love. With one voice they +resolved to refuse, and the word was sent to Captain David Kirke.</p> + +<p>He meanwhile turned his fleet down the river, fancying the town an easy +prey, when he espied the relief stores sent from France, a dozen or so +vessels, bringing colonists, workmen, priests, women, and children, and +farming implements, as well as stores, convoyed by a man-of-war. It was +a rich prize for the Englishman, and an order for surrender was sent, +which was refused.</p> + +<p>The battle was indeed disastrous for Quebec, though they were not to +know it until months afterward. Most of the emigrants Captain Kirke +despatched back to France, some of the least valuable vessels he burned, +and sailed home with his trophies, leaving Quebec for another attempt.</p> + +<p>Meanwhile the little colony waited in ill-defined terror. Day after day +passed and no attack was made. Then they ventured to send out some boats +and found to their surprise the river was clear of the enemy, but every +little settlement had been laid waste. The stock of food was growing +low, the crops were not promising. Every consignment sent from France +had miscarried, and since the two nations were at war there was small +hope of supplies. What would they do in winter? Already the woods were +scoured for nuts and edible roots, and stores were hidden away with +trembling hands. There were many plans discussed. If they could send +part of their people out to find a Basque fishing fleet, and thus return +home.</p> + +<p>No heart was heavier than that of the Sieur de Champlain. To be sure +there was his renown as a discoverer and explorer, but the city he had +planned, that was to be the crowning point of France's possessions, was +slowly falling to decay.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XV" id="CHAPTER_XV"></a>CHAPTER XV</h2> + +<h3>HELD IN AN ENEMY'S GRASP</h3> + + +<p>These were sad times for old Quebec and for the little girl who was +blossoming into a womanhood that should have been joyous and serene, she +asked so little of life.</p> + +<p>When the news of the reverse and the loss of the stores reached them, +they were still more greatly burthened by the influx from Tadoussac and +the settlements around. Then, too, the wandering Indians joined in the +clamor for food. Trade was stopped. Mont Réal took the furs and disposed +of them in other channels. No one knew how many English vessels were +lying outside, ready to confiscate anything valuable.</p> + +<p>Madame Destournier was in a state of ungovernable terror.</p> + +<p>"Why should we stay here and be murdered?" she would cry. "Or starve to +death! Let us return to France, as we planned. Am I of not as much +consideration as an Indian squaw, that you all profess so much anxiety +for?"</p> + +<p>"It would not be prudent to cross the ocean now," her husband said. "We +might be taken prisoners and carried to England. You are in no state to +face hardships."</p> + +<p>"As if I did not face them continually! Oh, I should have gone at once, +when Laurent died. And if the English take the town, where will be the +fortune he struggled for! I wish I had never seen the place."</p> + +<p>She would go on bewailing her hard fate until utterly exhausted. There +were days when she would not let Rose out of her sight, except when her +husband entered the room. It was well that he had a motive of the +highest honor, to hold himself well in hand, though there were times +when his whole heart went out in pity for Rose. Was there another soul +in the world that would have been so pitiful and tender?</p> + +<p>Eustache Boullé had come from Tadoussac, since so little could be done +toward rehabilitating that, and proved himself a most worthy compatriot +to Champlain. Rose was sorely troubled at first, but she soon found that +miladi no longer cared for the marriage. She was too selfish to think of +losing one who was so useful to her. The girl's vigor and vivacity were +a daily tonic to her. Would she sap the strength out of this splendid +creature? Ralph Destournier wondered, with a pang. Yet to interfere was +not possible. He understood the jealous nature, that if given the +slightest ground would precipitate an <i>esclandre</i>.</p> + +<p>Among the Indians flocking in was Savignon, who had gone to France years +before with Champlain, and who had been in demand as an interpreter. He +had spent a year or two up at the strait, where there was quite a +centre, and the priests had established a station, and gone further on +to the company's outpost. An unusually fine-looking brave, with many of +the white man's graces, that had not sunk deep enough to be called real +qualities. But they were glad to see him, and gave him a warm welcome.</p> + +<p>And now what was to be done? All supplies being cut off, the grain +fields laid in ruin, the crops failing, how were they to sustain +themselves through the winter? Various plans were suggested. One of the +most feasible, though fraught with danger, was to lead a party of +Algonquins against the Iroquois, and capture some of their villages. The +tribe had proved itself deceitful and unfriendly on several occasions. +The Algonquins were ready for this. Another was to accept the proffer of +a number settled at Gaspé, who had been warm friends with Pontgrave, and +who would winter about twenty of the suffering people.</p> + +<p>Ralph Destournier offered to head the expedition, as it needed a person +of some experience to restrain the Indians, and good judgment in not +wasting supplies, if any could be found. Savignon consented to accompany +them, and several others who were weary of the suffering around them and +preferred activity. They would be back before winter set in if they met +with any success.</p> + +<p>Destournier planned that his wife should be made comfortable while he +was gone. At first she protested, then she sank into a kind of sullen +silence. She had seemed stronger for some weeks.</p> + +<p>Rose had gone for her daily walk late in the afternoon. She read miladi +to sleep about this time and was sure of an hour to herself. She was +feeling the severe drain upon her quite sensibly, and though she longed +to throw herself on a couch of moss and study the drifting clouds in the +glory of the parting day, when the sun had gone behind the hills and the +wake of splendor was paling to softer colors; lavender and pale green, +that mingled in an indescribable tint, for which there could be no name. +There was a little coolness in the air, but the breath of the river was +sweet and revived her. Many of the leaves had dried and fallen from the +drought, yet the juniper and cedar were bluish-green in the coming +twilight, with their clusters of berries frostily gray.</p> + +<p>But she walked on. There was a craving in her heart for a change, a +larger outlook. It would not be in marrying M. Boullé, though more than +once when she had surprised his eyes bent wistfully upon her, a pang of +pity for him had gone to her heart. Could she spend years waiting on +miladi, whose strength of will kept her alive. Or was it that horrible +fear of death? If it was true as the priests taught—oh, yes, it must +be. God could not be so cruel as to put creatures in this world to toil +and suffer, and then drop back to dust, to nothingness. Even the Indians +believed in another sphere, in their crude superstitious fashion, and +there must be some better place as a reward for the pain here that was +not one's own fault. She loved to peer beyond the skies as she thought, +and to drift midway between them and the grand woods, the changeful sea. +What if one floated off and never came back!</p> + +<p>There was a step beside her, and she drew a long breath, though she was +not alarmed, for she almost felt a presence, and turned, waited.</p> + +<p>"Rose," the voice said, "I have wanted to find you alone. I have several +things to say. I have promised to go on this expedition because I felt +it was necessary. You will not blame me. I have made all arrangements +for you and miladi, and I shall be back before the real cold weather +sets in. I only pray that we may be successful."</p> + +<p>"Yes," she said under her breath, yet in vague surprise.</p> + +<p>"It is a hard burthen to lay upon you. Do not imagine I have not seen +it. At first I thought it only the restless whim of failing health, but +I believe she loves you as much as she can love any human being. I +realize now that she should have gone to her own sunny France long ago. +She is formed for pleasure and brightness, variety, and to have new +people about her when she exhausts the old. I should not have married +her, but it seemed the best step then. I truly believed——"</p> + +<p>No, he would not drag his weak justification before this pure, sweet +girl, though he had almost said "I believed she loved me." And he had +learned since that she loved no one but her own self. Laurent Giffard +had never awakened to the truth. But he had taken the best of her youth.</p> + +<p>"Oh, you must know that I am glad to make some return for all your +kindness in my childhood. And she was sweet and tender. I think it is +the illness that has changed her. Oh, I can recall many delightful hours +spent with her. I should be an ingrate if I could not minister to her +now of my best."</p> + +<p>"You could never be an ingrate," he protested.</p> + +<p>"I hope not," fervently.</p> + +<p>"I count confidently on returning. I can't tell why, for we shall risk +the fate of war, but I can almost see myself here again in the old +place. Like our beloved Commandant I, too, have dreams of what Quebec +can be made, a glorious place to hand down to posterity. Meanwhile you +will care for her as you do now, and comfort her with your many pleasant +arts. I am a man formed for business and active endeavor, and cannot +minister in that manner. Perhaps Providence did not intend me for a +husband, and I have thwarted the will of Providence."</p> + +<p>There was a humorous strain in his voice at the last sentence.</p> + +<p>"Oh, you need not fear but that I will do my best. And I, too, shall +look for your home-coming, believe in it, pray for it."</p> + +<p>"The women will remain, and Pani will serve you to the uttermost. When +this weary time is ended, and we are in better condition, you will have +your reward."</p> + +<p>"I do not want any reward, it is only returning what has been given."</p> + +<p>He knew many things miladi had grudged her, most of all the home, since +it was of his providing and intent.</p> + +<p>They wandered on in silence for some time. Both hearts were too full for +commonplace talk, and he did not dare venture out of safe lines. He +could not pretend to fatherly love, even that cloaked by brotherliness +would be but a sham, he knew. He had his own honor to satisfy, as well +as her guilelessness.</p> + +<p>Now it was quite dark.</p> + +<p>"Oh, I must go back. It has been so pleasant that I have loitered. Let +us run down this slope."</p> + +<p>She held out her hand, and he took it. They skimmed over the ground like +children. Then there were the steps to climb, but she was up the first.</p> + +<p>"Good-night." She waved her white hand, and he saw it in the darkness.</p> + +<p>"The saints bless and keep you."</p> + +<p>She ran over to the level and then up again toward the kitchen end. +There was a savory smell of supper. A moose had been killed and divided +around.</p> + +<p>"Oh, how delightful! Is there enough for two bites? One will not satisfy +me. But I must see miladi."</p> + +<p>"No," interposed Wanamee. "I took in a cup of broth, but she was soundly +asleep. Have some steak while it is hot. The saints be praised for a +mouthful of decent food."</p> + +<p>Yes, it was good. Pani watched with eager, hungry eyes and lips aquiver. +Rose felt almost conscience-smitten that she should have been satisfied +first.</p> + +<p>"Was there much to be divided?" she asked of him.</p> + +<p>"He was a noble, big fellow. And they have gone up in the woods for +deer."</p> + +<p>Miladi was still asleep when she entered the room. She held the lamp a +little close with a sudden fear, but she saw the tranquil movement of +her chest and was reassured. There was a young moon coming up, a golden +crescent in a sky of flawless blue. It was too small to light the savage +cliffs, but she could hear the plash of the incoming tide that swirled +along with the current of the river. If the English came, what then?</p> + +<p>It was near ten when miladi woke.</p> + +<p>"What time is it?" she asked. "Not quite morning, for it is dark. I have +had such a splendid sleep. Why, I feel quite well."</p> + +<p>She sat up in the bed.</p> + +<p>"Come and bathe my face, Rose. Do you know whether Madame Hébert has the +recipe of this fragrant water? Mine is nearly gone. It is so +refreshing."</p> + +<p>"I am quite sure she has. You have had no supper. There is some tasty +meat broth."</p> + +<p>"I'm tired of pease and greens, and make-believe things that don't +nourish you at all. And there was such nice fish. Why do they not get +some? The river certainly hasn't dried up."</p> + +<p>"No, Madame," in almost a merry tone, as if it might take the edge off +of complaining. "But there is such a scarcity of hooks. Petit Gabou is +making a net of dried grass that he thinks will answer the purpose. And +we have always had such a plentiful supply of fish."</p> + +<p>The broth was very nourishing. Then Rose must sit with both of miladi's +hands in hers, so warm and soft, hers being little beside bone and +joints. She talked of France and her youth, when she was a pretty girl, +just out of the convent, and went to Paris. "You will like it so much. I +can hardly wait for the summer to come. I shall not mind if Monsieur has +so much business on hand that he cannot leave," and her tone had a +little mocking accent. "When men get older they lose their nice ways of +compliment and grace. They care less for their wives. Even M. de +Champlain does not fret after his, who is no doubt enjoying herself +finely. She was wise not to return."</p> + +<p>The slim, golden crescent had wandered away to other worlds, and the +stars grew larger and brighter in their bed of blue. She watched them +through the open window. A screen was set up so that no draught should +annoy miladi. Presently she fell asleep again, and Rose stole to her own +couch, the other side of the screen, where she could still watch the +stars.</p> + +<p>Savignon had come in with news. The Algonquins knew of a storehouse of +the Iroquois, who had gone on the war-path, and would hardly be back for +a whole moon. It would be best to start at once, and they began +preparations. Some of the Indian women volunteered, they were used to +carrying burthens. Bags were packed up. They trusted to find most of +their food upon the route.</p> + +<p>Miladi took the parting tranquilly. M. Ralph had spent weeks on +exploring expeditions. If there was any danger in this, she did not heed +it. She held up her face to be kissed, and he noted how dry and parched +the lips were.</p> + +<p>He gave a brief good-bye to Rose, who was standing near.</p> + +<p>"Surely, he does not care for women," Miladi thought exultingly. "Even +her fresh, young beauty is nothing to him. He has no tender, eager +soul."</p> + +<p>Rose went down to the plateau to see the start.</p> + +<p>"You are much interested, Mam'selle?" Savignon said. "Give us the charm +of your thoughts and prayers."</p> + +<p>"You have both, most truly." What a fine, stalwart fellow Savignon was, +lighter than the average, and picturesque in his Indian costume, though +he often wore the garb of civilization. French had become to him almost +a mother tongue.</p> + +<p>Yet Rose wondered a little if it was right to rob the storehouse where +the industrious Indians had been making preparations for the coming +winter. Was it easier for one race to starve than another?</p> + +<p>"And wish us a safe return."</p> + +<p>The look in his eyes disconcerted her for an instant. Her own drooped. +She was acquiring a woman's wisdom.</p> + +<p>"I do that most heartily," she made answer, turning aside; but the +admiration lingered over her fine, yet strong figure, with its grace of +movement. The beautiful eyes haunted him, if they were turned away.</p> + +<p>Such forays were not uncommon among the tribes. The Iroquois had planted +more than one storehouse in the wilderness, in most secluded places. It +saved carrying burthens, as they wandered about, or if in desperate +weather, they set up their wigwams, and remained eating and sleeping, +until hunger drove them elsewhere.</p> + +<p>A ship had come down from Acadia with news that several English vessels +were hovering about. They offered to take some of the women and +children, and M. de Champlain was thankful for this. By spring there +must be some change in affairs. The mother country could not wholly +forget them.</p> + +<p>Rose wondered at times that miladi remained so tranquil. She slept a +great deal, and it was an immense relief. It seemed occasionally that +her mind wandered, though it was mostly vague mutterings.</p> + +<p>Once she said quite clearly—"I will not have the child. You will come +to love her better than you do me."</p> + +<p>Then she opened her eyes and fixed them on Rose, with a hard, cold +stare.</p> + +<p>"Go away," she cried. "Go away. I will not have you here to steal his +love from me. You are only a child, but one day you will be a woman. And +I shall be growing old, old! A woman's youth ought to come back to her +for a brief while."</p> + +<p>Rose's heart swelled within her. Was this why miladi had taken such +queer spells, and sometimes been unkind to her for days? And M. +Destournier had always stood her friend.</p> + +<p>Yet she felt infinitely sorry for miladi, and that calmed her first +burst of indignation. She went out to the forest to walk. The withered +leaves lay thick on the ground, they had not been as beautiful as in +some autumns, the drought had turned them brown too soon. The white +birches seemed like lovely ghosts haunting the darkened spaces. Children +were digging for fallen nuts, even edible roots, and breaking off +sassafras twigs. What would they do before spring, if relief did not +come!</p> + +<p>Suppose she went away with the next vessel that came in. But then she +had promised. Oh, yes, she must look after miladi, just as carefully as +if there were depths of love between them. How did she come to know so +much about love? Surely she had never loved any one with her whole soul. +Neither had she craved an overwhelming affection. But now the world +seemed large, and strange, and empty to her. She rustled the leaves +under her feet, as if they made a sort of company in the loneliness. +Perhaps it would not have been so bad to have taken M. Boullé's love. If +only love did not mean nearness, some sacred rites, kisses. She felt if +she raised her hand in permission it might still be hers. No, no, she +could not take it, and she shivered. Why, it was nearly dark, and cold. +She must run to warm her blood.</p> + +<p>She came in bright and glowing, her eyes in cordial shining.</p> + +<p>"Thank the Holy Mother that you have come," cried Mawha. "Miladi has +been crying and going on and saying that you have deserted her. Wanamee +could not comfort her. Run, quick."</p> + +<p>Miladi was sobbing as if her heart would break. Rose bent over her, +smoothed her brow and hair, chafed the cold hands.</p> + +<p>"The way was so long and dark," she cried, "such a long, long path. Will +I have to go all alone?" and Rose could feel the terrified shiver.</p> + +<p>"You will not have to go anywhere," began the girl, in a soothing tone. +"I shall stay here with you."</p> + +<p>"But you were gone," complainingly.</p> + +<p>"I will not go again."</p> + +<p>"Then sit here and hold my hands. I think it was a dream. I am not going +to die. I am really better. I walked about to-day. Is there word from +Monsieur? You know we are going to France in the summer. Do you know +what happens when one dies? I've seen the little Indian babies die. Do +you suppose they really have souls?"</p> + +<p>"Every one born in the world has. The priest will tell you." Rose gained +a little courage. "Perhaps you would like to see Father Jamay."</p> + +<p>"I went to confession a long while ago. The priest wanted my French +books. M. Ralph said I need not give them up. I prayed to the Virgin. I +prayed for many things that did not come. But we will go to France, M. +Ralph promised, and he never breaks his word, so I do not need to pray +for that. I am cold. Cover me up warm, and get something for my feet. +Then sit here and put your arms around me. Promise me you will never go +away again."</p> + +<p>"I promise"—in a sweet, soft tone.</p> + +<p>Then she sat on the side of the bed and placed her arm about the +shoulders. How thin they were.</p> + +<p>"Sing something. The silence frightens me."</p> + +<p>Rose sang, sometimes like a chant, lines she could recall that had a +musical sound. The leaning figure grew heavier, the breathing was slow +and tranquil. Wanamee came in.</p> + +<p>"Help me put her down," Rose said, for she was weary with the strained +position.</p> + +<p>They laid her down tenderly, without waking her.</p> + +<p>"Stay with me," pleaded Rose. "You know when I went away M. Destournier +used to come in. I do not like to leave her alone."</p> + +<p>"It is curious," exclaimed Wanamee. "This morning she seemed so well, +and walked about. Then she sinks down. How long she has been ill, this +way."</p> + +<p>Rose wanted to ask a solemn question, but she did not dare. Presently +Wanamee dozed off, but Rose watched until the eastern sky began to show +long levels of light. There seemed an awesome stillness in the room.</p> + +<p>"Wanamee," she said faintly.</p> + +<p>The woman rose and looked at the figure on the bed, standing some +seconds in silence.</p> + +<p>"Go out quietly, <i>ma fille</i>, and find Mawha. Send her in." Then she +turned Rose quite around, and the girl uttered no question.</p> + +<p>"What is the matter?" asked Pani. "Mam'selle, you are white as a +snowdrift."</p> + +<p>"I think miladi is dead," and she drew a long, strangling breath, her +figure trembling with unknown dread.</p> + +<p>Pani bowed and crossed himself several times.</p> + +<p>Wanamee came in presently. "The poor lady is gone," she said reverently. +"She was so afraid of dying, and it was just like a sleep. Pani, you +must row up to the convent at once, and ask some of the fathers to come +down. Stop first at the fort and tell the Governor."</p> + +<p>That Madame Destournier should die surprised no one, but it was +unexpected, for all that. It appeared to accentuate the other sorrows +and anxieties. And that M. Destournier should be away seemed doubly sad. +Two of the priests came down with Pani, and held some services over the +body. Her ill health was the excuse of her not having paid more +attention to the offices of the Church, that so far had not flourished +at all well. The convent was really too far, and the chapel service had +waned since the departure of Madame de Champlain.</p> + +<p>When Rose gained courage to go into the room where a few tapers were +dimly burning, she lost her fear in an instant. It was a thin and +wrinkled face, but it had a certain placid sweetness that often hallows +it, when pain and fear are ended. Rose pressed her lips to the cold +forehead, and breathed a brief prayer that miladi had found entrance to +a happier land. A new thought took possession of her. Miladi belonged +wholly to Laurent Giffard now. The tie that bound her to M. Destournier +was broken, and it was as if it had never been. She remembered he had +once said he would relinquish her in that other country. She had simply +been given to him in her sorrow, to care for a brief while. And how +grandly he had done it. Rose was too just, perhaps with some of the +incisive energy of youth, to cover up miladi's faults at once. If she +had been grateful to him for his devotion she would have thought more +tenderly of love. Yet she experienced a profound pity.</p> + +<p>There had been set aside a burial plot, one end for the white +inhabitants. Thither the body was taken, and laid beside her true +husband, with the rites of the Church. M. de Champlain headed the +procession, but on the outskirts there was a curious throng.</p> + +<p>The Héberts pressed their hospitality upon Rose, but even they were in +great straits. Then Wanamee was less superstitious than most of her +race, and made no demur at remaining in the house, if Rose desired to +stay. It was home to the girl, and she could almost fancy the better +part of miladi's spirit hovered about it, released from suffering.</p> + +<p>How would M. Destournier take it? Would he regret he had not been here?</p> + +<p>Day after day they waited the return of the party. Had there been a +battle? Sometimes Rose felt as if she must join them, the suspense +seemed the hardest of all to endure.</p> + +<p>At last most of the Indians returned, with bags and blankets of +supplies. There had been no battle. They had come unexpectedly upon a +storehouse, cunningly hidden in the wood. There were no guards about. So +they had entered, and after satisfying their hunger, packed corn and +dried meats, onions, which would be a great treat, and nuts. They +divided the party, and sent one relay on ahead, to travel as fast as +possible, with the good news, and relieve the famishing people.</p> + +<p>Quebec greeted them with the wildest joy. Savignon headed this party. +They had two days' start, and though the ground was frozen, there had +been no deep snow to prevent the others from a tolerably comfortable +march. They would no doubt be in soon. It seemed a large addition to +their scanty store. A great joy pervaded the little colony.</p> + +<p>Two days passed, then a third. A party, headed by Savignon, went out to +meet them. They found a few men, dragging and carrying weary loads. +There had been an accident to M. Destournier. He had stumbled into an +unseen pitfall and broken his leg. They had carried him on a litter for +two days, then he had begged the others to leave him with an attendant, +and hurry onward, coming back for him as soon as possible.</p> + +<p>Rose was all sympathy and anxiety. She flew to one of the half-breeds, +who had borne the litter. Was there much injury beside the broken leg?</p> + +<p>"He was a good deal shaken up, but he knew what to do about bandaging, +and he uttered no groans. But when he attempted to walk the next morning +he died for a few moments, as your women sometimes do. And when he came +to life, they made the litter. He was very brave. So we rigged up a sort +of tent in the woods, as he insisted on being left."</p> + +<p>The Commandant ordered that a party be formed at once to rescue him. +They could not allow him to perish there in the wilderness. He might be +ill.</p> + +<p>"He might die," Rose said to herself. And then an intense ungovernable +longing came over her to see him once again. Women could minister to him +better than men. And if Wanamee and Pani would go. Pani had been so much +with women that he had lost many of the virile Indian traits.</p> + +<p>Yes, they would go, but Wanamee did not quite approve of the journey. No +one could tell how deep a snow would set in.</p> + +<p>"But it will be only a six days' journey, and most of it through the +forests. Savignon will be an excellent guide. And no one must speak of +the great sorrow that awaits him here."</p> + +<p>M. de Champlain opposed the plan. It was too severe for women. But +curiously enough Savignon said—"The blossom of Quebec is no dainty +flower, to be crushed by wind and storm. If she wants to go, I am on her +side."</p> + +<p>When Rose heard this she flew out to thank him, catching one hand in +both of hers, her eyes luminous with gladness.</p> + +<p>"Oh, I cannot truly thank you, Monsieur. I must go, even if I ran away +and followed on behind. And I am no delicate house-plant."</p> + +<p>"Thou art a brave girl," admiringly. "Thou hast been used to woods and +rocks, and art strong and courageous."</p> + +<p>To be called monsieur was one of Savignon's great delights. He had tired +not a little of the roughness of savage life, and though he had caressed +pretty Indian maidens he had never been much in love with them. And this +girl was different from most of the white women. The courage in every +line of her face, the exuberant bounding life that flushed her veins, +her straight lithe figure, and the grace of every movement, appealed +strongly to him.</p> + +<p>"Thou wilt find it hard going, Mam'selle, keeping step to the men, and +sleeping in the woods. But three days are soon spent, and we need not +march back so hastily. Our women have stood more than that."</p> + +<p>"You will see how much I can stand," she answered proudly. She believed +the admiring eyes were for her courage alone.</p> + +<p>Go she must. She did not stop to question. There was only one thing +uppermost in her mind. If he died she must see him; if he lived, she +must wait upon him, comfort him in his sorrow, for although in a vague +way she knew he had not come up to the highest joy in his marriage, any +more than her dear Sieur de Champlain, he had cared very tenderly for +miladi, and would sorrow to know her shut out of life. And it had been +so quiet at the last, just falling asleep. Her arms had been around her, +her voice the last sound miladi had heard. He would rejoice in his +sorrow that all had been so tranquil.</p> + +<p>Rose and Wanamee came down in their robes of fur, with their deerskin +frocks underneath. Rose's cap had its visor turned up and it framed in +her beautiful face. Her hair fell in loose curls, the way she had always +worn it, and the morning sun sent golden gleams amongst it. There was a +small crowd to wish them God-speed.</p> + +<p>The horses that De Champlain had brought over and a few mules that had +been at Cape Tourmente were carried off in the English raid. True, they +would not have been of much account in the overgrown brush of the +wilderness.</p> + +<p>"Mam'selle," Savignon said, after an hour or two, "do not hurry ahead +so. You will tire before night."</p> + +<p>"I feel as if I could run, or fly," she made answer, and she looked so.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XVI" id="CHAPTER_XVI"></a>CHAPTER XVI</h2> + +<h3>A LOVER OF THE WILDERNESS</h3> + + +<p>The weather was splendid, the sky cloudless, the air scented with the +resinous fragrance of cedar, fir, and pine. They paused for a midday +lunch and then kept on until dark. In a clearing in an almost +impenetrable forest they paused, built a fire, and prepared to camp. +Savignon drew some young saplings together and filled up the interstices +with boughs, ordering smaller ones inside that a sort of bed should be +raised off the ground. One of the men had shot some squirrels, and their +broiling over the coals was appetizing.</p> + +<p>"You and Wanamee will be quite safe," the guide said. "We shall wrap in +our blankets and sleep about the fire. If you hear the cry of wolves, do +not be alarmed."</p> + +<p>"How good you are," Rose returned, her eyes glorious with grateful +emotions. "M. Destournier will never forget your service. It cannot be +rewarded."</p> + +<p>"Mam'selle, a man would give his life for your pleasure. Sleep well and +do not fear."</p> + +<p>And sleep she did, with the slumber of youth and health. Naught came to +alarm them.</p> + +<p>Their second day's journey was uneventful, though it was not so clear +and sunny, and again they camped for the night. Was there only one day +more? Rose's heart beat with alternate fear and joy. Indeed, they might +meet the cavalcade on the way.</p> + +<p>She would not admit fatigue, indeed she did not feel it. Her grand hope +gave lightness to her step and color to her cheeks, which were like a +delicious opening rose, and you were fain to declare they had the same +fragrance. When she talked to Wanamee, Savignon did not listen for any +girlish secrets, but simply the music of her voice. That day some bird +astray in the forest gave his whistle, perhaps to his mate, and she +answered it with the most enchanting music. He came so near they could +hear the flutter of his wings. Cadotte started up with his gun.</p> + +<p>"You shall not kill it!" she cried. "Do you think I would lure a bird to +such a cruel, treacherous death!"</p> + +<p>Her face was bewitching in its indignation. What spirit, what strength +of purpose shone in it!</p> + +<p>"He will freeze before spring, Mam'selle," Cadotte returned sullenly.</p> + +<p>"Then let him die as the good God intends."</p> + +<p>"Mam'selle, I never heard a human voice so like a bird's," Savignon +declared, in a tone of admiration. "Do you know other voices that range +in Quebec?"</p> + +<p>She laughed, her present anger vanishing.</p> + +<p>"I used to tame them when I was a child. They would come at my call. I +loved them so. And a tame deer knew my voice and followed me."</p> + +<p>"As anything would. Mam'selle, sing or whistle, and it will make our +steps lighter. Among the Bostonnais they march to music not as sweet as +thine."</p> + +<p>She was glad to give them pleasure.</p> + +<p>The last day seemed long indeed, to her. Once they mistook the path and +had to pick their way back. Savignon's acute eyes told him another party +had crossed it, and he went on warily.</p> + +<p>Presently, in the coming darkness, two scouts ran on ahead.</p> + +<p>"Art thou tired, Mam'selle?" asked the well-modulated voice that had +lost the guttural Indian tone.</p> + +<p>"Not tired, but impatient. Do you suppose we have missed them? What if +they should have started in some other direction?"</p> + +<p>"I hardly think that. I have expected to meet them. M. Destournier must +have been more disabled than we supposed. But we shall soon know."</p> + +<p>Oh, what if he were dead! A blackness fell over everything. She caught +Wanamee's arm for support. It was growing so dark they kept closer +together. The dead leaves rustled under their feet, now and then in an +opening they saw the sky in the soft, whitish-gray tints before it turns +to blue.</p> + +<p>There was a shrill, prolonged whistle.</p> + +<p>"They are coming back with news." Savignon guessed it was not cheering. +He answered through his fingers.</p> + +<p>The two scouts came hurrying forward.</p> + +<p>"They are gone. They must have taken some other road. The campfire is +out, the stones are missing. What shall we do?"</p> + +<p>Rose gave a soft, appealing cry, that she vainly strove to restrain.</p> + +<p>"We had better go on. We must stop for the night. It is too dark to find +their trail."</p> + +<p>It seemed to Rose as if she would sink to the ground with indescribable +terror.</p> + +<p>"Oh, do you think——" She caught Savignon's arm.</p> + +<p>"They have started on and missed the trail," he replied, in an almost +indifferent tone, but he guessed in his heart there had been some +surprise. "We must find the old place and camp for the night. To-morrow +we will seek out the trail."</p> + +<p>"You do not think there can have been——" Her voice faltered for very +fear.</p> + +<p>"We had best think nothing. We should no doubt come wide of the mark. +Let us push on," to the men.</p> + +<p>There were heavy hearts and slow steps. It seemed as if it must be +midnight when they reached the clearing, though it was not that late. +They built their fire. Cadotte and Savignon took a survey.</p> + +<p>"Another party has been here," Cadotte exclaimed, in a whisper. "There +has been a struggle. They are carried off somewhere."</p> + +<p>"Do not speak of it to-night. The women are tired. And Mam'selle will +have a thousand fears."</p> + +<p>They found the others busy with fire and supper. Rose sat apart, her +face buried in her hands, a thousand wild fears chasing one another +through her mind. Life would be dreary if—if what? If he were dead? Had +he suffered long with no one to cheer? Or had he been suddenly +despatched by some marauding party? Then they would find his poor body. +Yes, to-morrow they would know all.</p> + +<p>She did not want any supper and crept to bed, weeping out her fears in +Wanamee's arms.</p> + +<p>They were all astir the next morning at daybreak. It was a little +cloudy. The three days had been unusually fine. Savignon had been +tracing this and that clew, and presently came upon a piece of wampum, +with a curious Huron design at one end. And a little further on he found +a trail where things had been roughly dragged. But he came to breakfast +with no explanation.</p> + +<p>Did the Rose of Quebec care so much for this man? He had been like a +father to her, perhaps it was only a child's love. But now M. +Destournier was free to choose a new wife—if he were alive. He was a +brave man, a fine man, but if he were dead! The Hurons would show scant +pity to a disabled man. Savignon had done and would do his best, but +somehow he could not feel so bitterly grieved. He loved this woman—he +knew that now.</p> + +<p>They were discussing plans when a near-by step startled them. Parting +the undergrowth, a torn and dishevelled man appeared. It was Paul De +Loie. He almost dropped on the ground at their feet.</p> + +<p>"I have run all night," he cried gaspingly. "The Hurons! They took us +prisoners, and the stores. They are expecting another relay of the +tribe, and are going up north for the winter, to join the Ottawas. But +first they are to have a carouse and dance," and the three prisoners are +to be tortured and put to death. He had escaped. He supposed the party +would be back for M. Destournier and the stores. They must fly at once, +and return if they would save their lives. And what madness possessed +them to bring women!</p> + +<p>"Wait!" commanded Savignon. "Let us go apart, De Loie, and consider the +matter," and taking the man by the arm, he raised him and walked him a +little distance.</p> + +<p>"Now tell me—M. Destournier—how did he progress?"</p> + +<p>"Well, indeed. We made him a crutch. We decided to take what stores we +could manage, and resume our journey, thinking we would be met by some +of the party. <i>Ma foi</i>, if we had started a day earlier! There were not +many of them, but twice too many for us. There was nothing to do, we +could gain nothing by selling our lives, we thought, but now they will +take them. In two days the rest of the party, thirty or forty, will join +them. We cannot rescue the others. Vauban could have escaped, but he +would not leave M. Destournier. And now retrace your steps at once."</p> + +<p>Savignon buried his face in his hands, in deep thought. Should he try to +rescue these men? The Hurons were superstitious. More than once he had +played on Indian credulity. He held some curious secrets, he had the +wampum belt that he could produce, as if by magic. He was fond, too, of +adventure, of power. And he imagined he saw a way to win the prize he +coveted. He was madly, wildly in love with Rose. She was heroic. If she +would grant his desire, the safety of three people would accrue from it. +And surely she had not loved the Frenchman, who until a brief while ago +had a wife. As he understood, they had been as parents to her. She was +young, but if a man could inspire her with love—with gratitude even——</p> + +<p>He questioned De Loie very closely. The trouble with Destournier would +be his inability to travel rapidly. They would soon be overtaken. Escape +that way was not feasible.</p> + +<p>"I will consider. Come and share our breakfast."</p> + +<p>Rose was walking by herself, on the outskirts of the clearing, her slim +hands clasped together, her head drooping, and even so her figure would +have attracted a sculptor. The Indian was enchanted with it. To clasp it +in his arms—ah, the thought set his hot blood in a flame.</p> + +<p>She turned and raised her eyes beseechingly, her beautiful, fathomless +eyes in whose depths a man easily lost himself, the curved sweetness of +the mouth that one might drain and drain, and never quite have his fill.</p> + +<p>"What is it, M'sieu? Is there any hope? Can nothing be done?" Her voice +went to his heart.</p> + +<p>"What would you be willing to do, Mam'selle?"</p> + +<p>"If I were a man I would attempt his rescue, or die with him. It would +not be so hard to die holding a friend's hand."</p> + +<p>"You love him very much?"</p> + +<p>The love Savignon meant had so little place in her thoughts that the +question did not cause her to change color.</p> + +<p>"He was so good to me when I was little, and ill for a long while. He +used to hold me on his knee, and let my head rest on his strong breast. +And when I was well again we climbed rocks, and he showed me where the +choicest wild fruit grew. And we went out in the canoe. He taught me to +read, he had books of strange, beautiful stories. And after he married +miladi he took me in his home as if I was a child. Ah, I could not help +loving one so kind, unless I had been made of stone. And I wanted to +comfort him in his sorrow."</p> + +<p>Her voice, in its pathos, the eyes luminous with tears that did not +fall, swept through the man like a devouring flame. He must have her. He +would risk all, he would test her very soul.</p> + +<p>"You have not said what you would give."</p> + +<p>"My life, M'sieu, if I could exchange it for his."</p> + +<p>"It does not need that. Listen, Mam'selle: When I first looked upon you, +I was swept away with a strange emotion. I had seen lovely girls, there +are some in our own race, with eyes of velvet, and lips that tempt +kisses. And I knew when I helped you get your way on this expedition, +what it was; that I loved you, that I would have kissed the ground you +had walked on. And on our journey here I have dreamed beautiful, +thrilling dreams of you. I slept at the door of your improvised tent +lest some danger should come upon you unawares. Last night when I noted +your tired step I wanted to take you in my arms and carry you. You have +filled my soul and my body with the rapture of love. I can think of +nothing else but the bliss of straining you to my heart, of touching +your lips with the fire that plays about mine, like the rosy lightning +that flashes through the heavens, engendered by the heat of the day. Oh, +take me for your husband, and your life shall be filled with the best I +can give. You shall not weary your small hands with work, they shall be +kept for a husband's kisses. I will worship you as the priests do their +Virgin."</p> + +<p>She had been transfixed at the outburst and flaming, passionate tone, +that in its vehemence seemed to grow finer, loftier. Was that love's +work?</p> + +<p>"But it will not save M. Destournier," she wailed.</p> + +<p>"Listen again." He stood up, manly and strong, and somehow touched her +with a subtle influence. It is not in a woman's nature to listen to a +tale of passionate love unmoved. "Once, among the Hurons an old witch +woman was wild to adopt me for her son. She gave me a great many secret +charms, many you white people would think the utmost foolishness. Some +were curious. And my people are superstitious. I have used them more +than once to the advantage of myself and others. I have brought about +peace between warring tribes. I have prevented war. I will go to the +Hurons, and try for M. Destournier's liberty. From what De Loie said, +they mean to sacrifice the men to-morrow. There are horrid, agonizing +tortures before death comes. If you will promise to marry me I will go +at once and do my utmost to rescue him, them."</p> + +<p>"And if you fail?" Her very breath seemed like a blast of winter cold.</p> + +<p>"Then, Mam'selle, I can ask no reward, only a share in your sorrow. I +will try to lighten their sufferings. That is all I can do."</p> + +<p>She crossed her arms upon her breast and rocked herself to and fro.</p> + +<p>"Oh, I cannot, I cannot," she said, with a cry of anguish. "Another man, +our dear Madame de Champlain's brother asked this thing of me, and I +could not. I do not want to marry."</p> + +<p>"All women do in their hearts," he said moodily.</p> + +<p>Was she not quite a woman yet? Had she just the soul of the little girl +who had climbed trees, scaled rocks, and plunged headlong into the +river to swim like a fish!</p> + +<p>"It is three lives," he said, with the persuasive voice of the tempter.</p> + +<p>Three lives! And among them her best friend! Something rose in her +throat, and she thought she was dying.</p> + +<p>"And if I cannot?" in a tone of desperate anguish.</p> + +<p>"Then we must start homeward at once. When the Hurons have whet their +appetite with their hellish pleasure, it is not easily satisfied. They +will look about for more fuel to add to the flames. So we must decide. I +cannot risk my own liberty for months for nothing. It will not make M. +Destournier's death pang easier."</p> + +<p>"Oh, go away, go away!" she almost shrieked, but the sorrow in her voice +took off the harshness. "Let me think. I do not love you! I might run +away. I might drown myself. I might not be able to keep my promise."</p> + +<p>"I should love you so much that you would not want to break it. Ah, I +could trust you, since you love no one else that you desire to marry."</p> + +<p>She dropped on the ground and hid her face, too much stunned even to +cry. "Three lives" kept singing in her ears. Was she not selfish and +cruel? O God, what could she do!</p> + +<p>"You know even the Sieur and the priests have approved of these mixed +marriages, so there would be no voice raised against it. The children +would belong to the Church and be reared in the ways of wisdom and +honor. In my way I am well born. I could take you to Paris, where you +would be well received. I have had some excellent training. Oh, it would +be no disgrace."</p> + +<p>They were calling to him from the group. He turned away. His intense +love for her, his little understanding of a woman's soul, his passionate +nature, not yet adjusted to the higher civilization, could not +understand and appreciate the cruelty.</p> + +<p>When he came back her small hands were nervously beating the dried turf. +He could not see her face.</p> + +<p>"They have decided to go at once," he exclaimed. "De Loie says there is +no time to lose."</p> + +<p>"I shall stay here and die," she said.</p> + +<p>"That will not save any one's life."</p> + +<p>Oh, that was the pity of it!</p> + +<p>She rose with a strained white face. She looked like some of the +beautiful carvings he had seen abroad. Not even anguish could make her +unlovely.</p> + +<p>"If you will go," she began hoarsely, and she seemed to strain her very +soul to utter the words, "and bring back M. Destournier, and the others, +I will marry you—not now, but months hence, when I can resolve upon the +step. I shall have to learn—no, you must not touch me, nor kiss me, +until I give you leave."</p> + +<p>"But you must let me take your hand once, and promise by the Holy Mother +of God."</p> + +<p>His seriousness overawed her. She rose and held out her slim, white +hand, from which the summer's brown had faded. Her lips shook as if with +an ague, but she promised.</p> + +<p>He wanted to kiss the hand, but he in turn was overawed.</p> + +<p>She heard the voices raised in dissent around the fire. What if they +would not let him go? She was chill and cold, and almost did not care. +She would stay here and die. Perhaps they could take the strange, +awesome journey together.</p> + +<p>Wanamee joined her. "Savignon has determined to go to the rescue of the +men," she began, "but De Loie thinks it a crazy step. And we must stay +and risk being made prisoners. What is the matter, <i>ma fille</i>? You are +as white as the river foam in a storm."</p> + +<p>"I am tired," she made answer. "I slept poorly last night. Then they +think there is no chance of success?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, no, no! And we ought to escape."</p> + +<p>She dropped down again, pillowing her head on a little rise of ground. +Should she be glad, or sorry? Either way she seemed stunned.</p> + +<p>The sky cleared up presently, and the sun came out. The few men walked +about disconsolately. The rations were apportioned, some went farther in +the woods, to find nuts, if possible. Now that the stores had been taken +and two days added to the journey, want might be their portion.</p> + +<p>Two of the men succeeded in finding some game. There was a small stream +of water, but no fish were discernible in it. It froze over at night, +but they could quench their thirst, and with some dried pennyroyal made +a draught of tea.</p> + +<p>Rose wondered if she had ever prayed before! All she could say now was: +"Oh, Holy Mother of God, have pity on me."</p> + +<p>The long night passed. De Loie said in the morning: "I think one of you +had better start with the women. If we should be beset with the savages, +they might find their way home. Here are some points I have marked out."</p> + +<p>"No," returned Rose, "let us all perish together."</p> + +<p>"<i>Mon Dieu!</i> Do you suppose they would let you perish? You would have to +be squaw to some brave."</p> + +<p>Rose shuddered. No, she could but die.</p> + +<p>De Loie started out on the path he had come. It was mid-afternoon. A +light snow began to fall, and the wind moaned in the trees. Rose and +Wanamee huddled together at the fire, their arms around each other, +under the blanket. It was easy to love Wanamee. But then she had begun +it as a child—Was it easy to love when one was grown?</p> + +<p>The darkness was descending when they heard a shout. Was it friend or +foe? Another, and it came nearer. It was not the voice of an Indian.</p> + +<p>De Loie rushed in upon them. "You men go and relieve those at the +litter. Savignon is a wizard. He has the three men. I could not believe +it at first, and I am afraid now it is a trick. You cannot trust an +Indian."</p> + +<p>Rose drew a long breath. Then her fate was sealed. Or, if they were +attacked in the night, it would be some compensation to die together.</p> + +<p>They came in at last, with Destournier on an improvised hemlock litter. +The fire blazed up brightly, making a striking picture of the eager +faces. The men lowered the litter to the ground, and they crowded around +it. Destournier was ghostly pale, but full of thankfulness. When there +was a little space open he reached out his hand to Rose.</p> + +<p>"You two women have been very brave, but you should not have taken the +journey. As for Savignon, we all owe him a debt that we can never +repay."</p> + +<p>"It is repaid already," returned the Indian, glancing over at Rose. "To +have rescued you——"</p> + +<p>"What arts and incantations you used! I could not have believed it +possible to move their stony hearts."</p> + +<p>"It was not their hearts." Savignon gave a grim smile. "It was their +fears that were worked upon. I was afraid at one time that I would not +succeed. But I had a reward before me."</p> + +<p>"Quebec will pay you all honor. It is a grand thing to have saved three +lives from torture and death. For there was no other escape."</p> + +<p>That night Destournier related the surprise and capture. The stores were +a great loss. But they would not let him bemoan them.</p> + +<p>"We must get back as rapidly as we can," he said. "I do not trust the +temper of the reinforcements, when they find they have been balked of +their prey."</p> + +<p>The snow had only been a light fall, and the trees in their higher +branches were marvels of beauty. It had not reached the ground in many +places.</p> + +<p>After a frugal breakfast the cavalcade started. Destournier insisted +upon walking at first, as he was freshened by his night's rest, +comparatively free from anxiety. His broken leg was well bandaged, and +he used two crutches. Rose noticed the thinness and pallor, and the +general languid air, but she kept herself quite in the background. +Savignon was really leader of the small party.</p> + +<p>"Wanamee," she said, in a low tone, "will you tell M. Ralph about +miladi?—I thought to do it, but I cannot. And I am so sorry she left no +message for him. He was always so good to her. And you can tell him I +held her a long while in my arms that night."</p> + +<p>"You were an angel to her, <i>ma fille</i>. I used to wonder sometimes——"</p> + +<p>"I suppose it was being ill so long, and trying so hard to get well, +that made her unreasonable. It is better to go out of life suddenly, do +you not think so?"</p> + +<p>"I should like to know a little about the hereafter. You see our nation +believe we go at once to another land, and do not stay in that miserable +place they tell of. But many of the braves believe there are no women +in the happy hunting grounds. One is swung this way and that," and +Wanamee sighed.</p> + +<p>Rose's mind was torn and distracted by her promise. Now and then an +awful shudder took her in a giant grasp, and she thought she would drop +down and ask them to leave her. Savignon would stay behind, if she +proposed that. What if he had not gone to the Hurons? Frightful stories +of torture she had heard rushed to her mind. Old Noko had witnessed +them. So had some of the men at the fort. Death itself was not so hard, +but to have burning sticks thrust into one's skin, to have fingers and +toes cut off, piecemeal—oh, she had saved him from that. Yes, she would +marry Savignon, and then throw herself into the river, after she had +kept her promise.</p> + +<p>The weather was growing colder. They halted for the night, and made a +fire. They had shot nothing, but the supper was very light, indeed.</p> + +<p>"Little Rose," said Destournier, "come over beside me, since I cannot +well come to you. I have hardly seen you, and have not asked what has +gone on at the fort. I feel as if I had been away half a lifetime. And +miladi——"</p> + +<p>"Wanamee will tell you, I cannot." She drew away the hand he held, and +gently pushed the Indian woman forward, going out of the clear sound of +her voice. Oh, would it be a great sorrow to him?</p> + +<p>Wanamee's recital of that last night set a halo about Rose in the man's +mind. He had known for years that he had not loved miladi as a man could +love, but he also questioned whether such a light, frivolous nature +could have appreciated the strong, earnest affection. Her great effort +to keep herself young had led to a meretricious childishness. She had a +vain, narrow soul, and this had dwarfed it still more. Many a night he +had watched over her, pained by her passionate beseeching that he would +not let her die, her awesome terror of death. He felt God had been +merciful not to allow her to suffer that last rending pain. He had +really become so accustomed to the thought of her dying that it did not +seem new or strange to him, but one of the inevitable things that one +must endure with philosophy. He realized the sweetness and patience of +Rose through these last months.</p> + +<p>When Wanamee came back she was snugly tucked in her blanket, and feigned +sleep. She did not want to talk. She fancied she would like to lie +beside miladi in the little burying ground. Young sorrow always turns to +death as a comforter.</p> + +<p>That night an adventure befell them, though most of them were sleeping +from exhaustion. It was the Indian's quick hearing that caught a +suspicious sound, and then heard a stealthy rustle. He reached for his +gun, and his eyes roved sharply around the little circle. The sound came +from nearly opposite. The fire was low, but his sight was keen, and +presently he espied two glaring eyes drawing nearer Wanamee and her +charge. There was a quick shot, a shriek, almost human, and a rush +farther in the forest.</p> + +<p>They were all awake in an instant. "An attack!" shouted two of the men.</p> + +<p>"A wolf," rejoined Savignon. He took up a brand and peered about in the +darkness. The body was still twitching, but the head was a mangled mass. +There were no others in sight, but they heard their cry growing fainter +and fainter.</p> + +<p>Rose sat up in affright. How near it had been to her. Was she always to +be in debt to this Indian?</p> + +<p>"Go to sleep again," he said, in a low tone. "We shall have no more +alarms to-night. I am keeping watch. I would give my life to save you +from harm."</p> + +<p>Wanamee drew the trembling, shrinking figure closer. Rose felt as if her +heart would burst with the sorrow she could not confess.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XVII" id="CHAPTER_XVII"></a>CHAPTER XVII</h2> + +<h3>THE PASSING OF OLD QUEBEC</h3> + + +<p>They ate their last crumbs for breakfast. A fine, cutting sleet was in +the air, but they kept quite inside of the forest, except when they were +afraid of losing the trail. There was no stop for a midday meal, and +they pushed on, carrying Destournier in a litter. Must they spend +another night in the woods?</p> + +<p>Suddenly a shout reaches them, the sound of familiar French voices, and +every heart thrilled with joy, as they answered it. Blessed relief was +at hand.</p> + +<p>Being alarmed at the long delay, a party had been sent out to search for +them. They halted, for indeed it seemed as if they could go no further. +Weak and hungry, some of the men sat down and cried, for very joy.</p> + +<p>"I have hardly been worth all the trouble," Destournier said, in a +broken voice.</p> + +<p>"It was not altogether you," replied one of the men. "And to have +rescued some of our men from those fiendish Hurons was worth while. +Savignon must have had some wonderful power to make them give up their +prey."</p> + +<p>The relief party were provided with food, dried meat that had come down +from some friendly Indians. After they had eaten, they resolved to push +on, and started with good courage. The storm had ceased and the stars +were pricking through the blue. The moon would rise later on. But it was +midnight when they came in sight of the fort. The warm welcome made +amends for all.</p> + +<p>Wanamee took Rose under her protection. She was nearly exhausted. M. de +Champlain insisted upon caring for Destournier, and examining the leg, +which was much swollen, but had been very well set. The story of the +wonderful escape was told over, to interested listeners.</p> + +<p>"We owe Savignon a great debt, and are too poor to pay it," said the +Governor sorrowfully.</p> + +<p>Poor indeed they were. It was the hardest winter the colony had known. +The dearth of news was most trying, and the fear of the English descent +upon them racked the brave heart of the Commandant, who saw his dream of +a great city vanishing. Jealousy had done some cruel work, and the +misgovernment of the mother country stifled the best efforts.</p> + +<p>Rose lay listless in bed for many days. How could she meet Savignon, who +haunted the place hourly, to inquire, and begged to see her? One day she +told Wanamee to send him in, and braced herself for the interview.</p> + +<p>Semi-famine had not told on him, unless it had added an air of +refinement. That he was superior to most of his race, was evident.</p> + +<p>He was not prepared for the white wraith-like being who did not rise +from her chair, but nodded and motioned him to a seat at a distance.</p> + +<p>"Oh, Mam'selle, you have been truly ill," he said, and there was a +tender sort of pity in his tone. "I have been wild to see you, to hear +you speak. Mam'selle, you must not die. I cannot give you up. I have +been starved, I have been half-crazy with impatience. Oh, can you not +have a little pity on me, when I love you so? And you have no one who +has a right to protest. You will keep your promise? For I swear to you +that I will kill any man who marries you. I cannot help if it brings +grief upon you. It would be the sorrow of my life not to have you! Oh, +let me touch your little white hand"—and he started from his seat with +an eager gesture.</p> + +<p>She put both behind her. "I do not love you," she began bravely. "It +would take time——"</p> + +<p>"I said I would wait, Rose of Quebec, wait months, for your sweetness to +blossom for me. But I cannot see you go to another."</p> + +<p>"There is no other. There will be no other." She was sure she told the +whole truth. "But if you insist now, I shall die before a marriage +comes. I could slip out of life easily. Perhaps when I am strong again, +courage may come back to me. You must go away and let me be quite by +myself, and think how brave you were, how patient you are. Then when +you come again——"</p> + +<p>She would be in her white winding sheet, then, and he would be afraid to +kiss her.</p> + +<p>"But I won you fairly, Mam'selle. And I had great trembling of heart, +for the Huron chief was obdurate. I succeeded at length. <i>He</i> has had a +wife, he does not need another. He might be your father. And you have +repaid him for all care by giving him back his life, by saving him from +torture you know little about. For if the party joining them had +discovered the robbery of their storehouse, there would have been little +mercy. Oh, Mam'selle, how can so sweet a being be so cold and +unyielding?"</p> + +<p>"I have told you the secret of it. I do not love you. I do not want you +for a husband. But I will keep my promise. Give me time to get well. It +may not look so terrible to me then."</p> + +<p>How lovely she was in her pleading, even if it did deny. He could have +snatched her to his heart and stifled her with kisses, yet he did not +dare to touch so much as her little finger. What strange power held her +aloof? But if she was once his wife——</p> + +<p>"A month," he pleaded.</p> + +<p>"Longer than that. Three months. Three whole moons. Then you may come +again and I will answer you."</p> + +<p>His face paled with anger, his eyes were points of flame, his blood was +hot within him.</p> + +<p>"I will not wait."</p> + +<p>"Then you may have my dead body."</p> + +<p>"But you break your promise."</p> + +<p>"I ask you to wait," she said, in a steady tone. "That is all."</p> + +<p>"And you will not seek to die, Mam'selle?"</p> + +<p>"I will be your wife then. Now go. I am too tired to argue any more."</p> + +<p>A sudden ray of hope kindled in the Indian's heart. He would see M. +Destournier, and lay the case before him, and beg his assistance. Surely +he could not refuse, when his life had been saved!</p> + +<p>Rose leaned back in a half-faint. Oh, surely God would take her before +that time. But she had promised in good faith. Matters might look +different to her when she was strong once more.</p> + +<p>Savignon meant to be armed at all points. He went up to the St. Charles +and laid his case before one of the fathers. His fine bearing and +intelligence won him much favor.</p> + +<p>"Men often married Indian women, who made good wives. In this case if +the woman desired to take him for her husband, there could be no real +objection; it was between the two parties. No over-persuasion was to be +used. And if her friends or parents consented, it would be right enough. +Only they must truly love each other."</p> + +<p>He knew now she did not truly love him. You might beat an Indian woman +into obedience—he had never struck one since he had come to manhood. +But this beautiful being, who was like a bit of flame, would be blown +out by harshness or force, and one would have only the cold body left. +If he could not make her love him at the end of the three months——</p> + +<p>Then he sought Destournier, and laid the tale before him. He had won +Mademoiselle honorably. She had given her promise. At the end of the +three months he would come for her. Now he had resolved to go to the +islands, since it would be wretched to stay here and not see Mam'selle.</p> + +<p>"Yes, the best thing," Destournier said, but he was stunned by the +bargain. Was his life to cost that sacrifice? There must be some way of +preventing it.</p> + +<p>As the days went on he considered various plans. This was why Rose was +so languid and unlike herself. Perhaps the hard winter and poor food had +something to do with it. She had bought his life at too great a +sacrifice. And then came the sweet, sad knowledge that he loved her, +also.</p> + +<p>The spring was quite early. Men began to work in their gardens and mend +the damages of the winter, but with a certain fear of what was to come. +And one day Destournier found Rose sitting in the old gallery, where she +had run about as a child. But she was a child no longer. The +indescribable change had come. There were womanly lines in her figure, +although it was thinner than of yore, and the light in her eyes deeper.</p> + +<p>He had given up the house to her and the two Indian women, with Pani for +attendant. M. Pontgrave had been a great invalid through the winter, and +besought the younger man's company. The Sieur often came in and they +talked over the glowing plans and dreams of the earlier days, when they +were to rear a city that the mother country could be proud of.</p> + +<p>He understood why Rose had shunned him, and whenever he resolved to take +up this troublous subject his courage failed him. Saved from this +marriage she surely must be. In a short time Savignon would return. He +had known of two women who had cast in their lots with the better-class +Indians at Tadoussac, and were happy enough. But they were not Rose.</p> + +<p>He came slowly over to her now. She looked up and smiled. Much keeping +indoors of late had made her skin fair and fine, but her soft hair had +not shed all its gold.</p> + +<p>"Rose," he began, then paused.</p> + +<p>She flushed, but made a little gesture, as if he might be seated beside +her.</p> + +<p>"Rose," he said again, "in the winter you saved my life. I have known it +for some time."</p> + +<p>Her breath came with a gasp. How had he learned this, unless Savignon +had come before the time?</p> + +<p>"And you paid a great price for it."</p> + +<p>"Oh, oh!" she clasped her hands in distress. "How did you know it?"</p> + +<p>"Savignon told me before he went away. He asked my consent to your +marriage. I could not give it then. He will soon return. I cannot give +it now."</p> + +<p>"But it was a promise. Monsieur, your life was of more account than +mine."</p> + +<p>"Do you think I will accept the sacrifice? I have been weak and cowardly +not to settle this matter before, not to give you the assurance that I +will make a brave fight for your release."</p> + +<p>"I was very sad and frightened at first, partly ill, as well, and I +hoped not to live. But the good God did not take me. And if He meant me +to do this thing, keep my word, I must do it. I asked Father Jamay one +time about promises, and he said when one had vowed a vow it must be +kept. And I have prayed for courage when the time comes. See, I am quite +tranquil."</p> + +<p>She raised her face and he read in it a nobly spiritual expression. He +recalled now that she had gone up to the convent quite often with +Wanamee, and that more than once she had slipped into Madame de +Champlain's <i>prie-dieu</i>, that her husband never would have disturbed. +Was she finding fortitude and comfort in a devotion to religion that +would strengthen her to meet this tremendous sacrifice? She looked like +a saint already.</p> + +<p>She could not tell him that he knew only half, that he might still be +the object of Savignon's vengeance, if she failed to keep her word.</p> + +<p>"Perhaps the Sieur will have something to say, if my wishes fail. +Unless you tell me you love this Indian, and that seems monstrous to me, +this marriage shall never take place."</p> + +<p>"It must, it must," she said, though her face was like marble, where it +had been human before. "M'sieu, what is right must be done. I promised, +and you were saved."</p> + +<p>"Of your own free will? Rose," he caught both hands in a pressure that +seemed to draw her soul along with it, "answer me truly."</p> + +<p>"Of my will, yes, Monsieur." Her white throat swelled with the anguish +she repressed.</p> + +<p>"You have left out the 'free,'" but he knew well why she could not utter +it.</p> + +<p>"Monsieur, I think you would be noble enough to give your life for a +friend"—she was about to say "whom you loved," but she caught her voice +in time.</p> + +<p>Was this heroic maiden the little girl who had run wild in the old town, +and sung songs with the birds; who had been merry and careless, but +always a sweet human Rose; the child he had taken to his heart long ago, +the girl he had watched over, the woman—yes, the woman he loved with a +man's first fervent passion! She should not go out of his life, now that +God had made a space for her to come in it. Miladi he had given up to +Laurent Giffard, she had never belonged to him in the deep sacredness of +love. And as he watched her, his eyes seeming to look into her soul, +through the motes of light that illumined them, he knew it was not +simply that she had no love for the Indian, but that she loved him. It +seemed the sublime moment of his life, the sweetest consciousness that +he had ever known.</p> + +<p>"You gave something greater than life. Listen," and he drew his brows +into a resolute line. "When that man comes we will have it out between +us. For I love you, too. I owe you a great reward that only a life's +devotion can pay. I am much older, but I seem to have just awakened to +the dream of bliss that sanctifies manhood. My darling, if a better man +came, I could give you up, if I went hungering all the rest of my days. +But you shall not go to certain wretchedness. And he must see the truth. +That is the way a man should love."</p> + +<p>Her slender, white throat rose and fell like a heartbeat. With Savignon +she would be loved with a fierce passion, for the man's supreme joy; +this man would love for the woman's joy.</p> + +<p>"Monsieur, I have studied the subject, and I think it is right. I pray +you, do not disturb my resolve. It has been made after many prayers. If +the good Father should change His mind—but that is hardly to be thought +of. Do not let us talk about it," and she rose.</p> + +<p>For instead of throwing herself in the river, as she had thought in her +wildness, she could cross to France, and enter a convent, if she could +not endure it.</p> + +<p>Ralph Destournier saw that argument was useless. When the time came, he +would act.</p> + +<p>But May passed without bringing the lover. Quebec was beginning to take +courage, and what with hunting and fishing, semi-starvation was at an +end. Emigrants came back and all was stir and activity in the little +town.</p> + +<p>There came a letter to Rose, after a long delay. Savignon had joined a +party of explorers, who were pushing westward, and marvelled at the +wonderful country. He had pondered much over his desires, and while his +love was still strong, he did not want an unwilling bride. He would give +her a longer time to consider—a year, perhaps. He had wrung a reluctant +assent from her, he admitted, and taken an ungenerous advantage. For +this he would do a year's penance, without sight of the face that had so +charmed him.</p> + +<p>Was he really brave enough to do that? Rose thought so. Destournier +believed it some new attraction to the roving blood of the wilderness.</p> + +<p>But Rose would not wholly accept her freedom. Still she was more like +the Rose of girlhood, though she no longer climbed or ran races. The +Sieur was whiling away the heavy hours of uncertainty by teaching +several Indian girls, and Rose found this quite a pleasure.</p> + +<p>The servant came in with some news. Not the French vessel they hoped +for, but an English man-of-war, with two gunboats, was approaching.</p> + +<p>If defence had been futile before, it was doubly so now. The fort was +out of repair, the guns useless from lack of ammunition, there was no +provision to sustain a siege. A small boat with a flag of truce rounded +the point, and with a heavy heart Champlain displayed his on the fort.</p> + +<p>The two brothers of Captain David Kirke, who was now at Tadoussac, had +again been sent to propose terms of surrender. The English were to take +possession in the name of their king.</p> + +<p>It was a sad party that assembled around the large table, where so many +plans and hopes had stirred the brave hearts of the explorers and +builders-up of new France. Old men they were now, Pontgrave a wreck from +rheumatism, a few dead, and Champlain, with the ruin of his ambitions +before him. There was some vigorous opposition to the demands, but there +was clearly no alternative but surrender. Hard as the terms were, they +must be accepted. And on July 20, 1629, the lilies of France ceased to +wave over Quebec, dear old Quebec, and Captain Louis Kirke took +possession of the fort and the town, in the name of His Majesty, King +Charles I, and the standard of England floated quite as proudly over the +St. Lawrence.</p> + +<p>Did they dream then that this scene would be enacted over again when a +new Quebec, proud of her improvements and defences, that were considered +impregnable, should fight and lose one of the greatest of battles, and +two of the bravest of men, and again lower the lilies! A greater romance +than that of old Quebec, the dream of the Sieur de Champlain.</p> + +<p>But it seemed a sad travesty that the mother country should send succor +too late. A French vessel, with emigrants and supplies, came in sight +only to fall into the hands of the victorious English.</p> + +<p>Captain Emery de Caen insisted that peace had been declared two months +before, but the Kirkes would not admit this. It was said that all +conquests after that date were to be restored. A new hope animated the +heart of the brave old Commandant. If it were true, the lilies might +replace the flaunting standard.</p> + +<p>Many of the citizens preferred to remain. They had their little homes +and gardens, and the English proved not overbearing. Then there was an +end to present want. A hundred and fifty men gave the town a new +impetus, and when the next fleet came, with the large war-ships, there +was a certain aspect of gayety, quite new to the place.</p> + +<p>After some discussion, Champlain resolved to return to France, and +thence to England, to understand the terms of peace, and if possible, to +win New France once more.</p> + +<p>Ralph Destournier was a Frenchman at heart, though a little English +blood ran in his veins. He had a strong desire to see France.</p> + +<p>"Will you go?" he asked of Rose.</p> + +<p>"Not until the year is ended," she said gravely. "But if you will +go—Wanamee and Pani can care for me. I am a little girl no longer."</p> + +<p>It was true. There was no more little girl, but there was no more old +Quebec. It had already taken on a different aspect. Officers and men in +bright uniforms climbed the narrow, crooked streets, with gay jests, in +what seemed their rough language; there were little taverns opened, +where the fife and drum played an unmelodious part. Religion was free, +for there had come to be a number of Huguenots, as well as of the new +English church. The poor priests were at their wits' end, but they were +well treated.</p> + +<p>Eustache Boullé was to go with the Sieur, but he never returned. He took +a rather fond farewell of Rose. "If you would go, we might find +something of your family," he said. "I once had a slight clew."</p> + +<p>"Is it not worth looking after?" asked Destournier, as he and Rose were +walking the plateau, since known as the Plains of Abraham. "If you were +proved of some notable family—there have been so many over-turns."</p> + +<p>"Would you feel prouder of me?"</p> + +<p>"No. Do you not know that you are dearer to me as the foundling of +Quebec, and the little girl I knew and loved?"</p> + +<p>She raised luminous eyes and smiled.</p> + +<p>"Then I do not care. No place will seem like home but this."</p> + +<p>He would not go to France, but busied himself with his fields and his +tenants. He came back to the old house, altered a little, the room where +miladi had spent her fretful invalid years was quite remodelled. Vines +grew up about it. The narrow steps were widened.</p> + +<p>Autumn came, and winter. The cold and somewhat careless living carried +off many of the English. But Madame Hébert had married again, and +Thérèse had found a husband. There was Nicolas Revert, with some growing +children. Duchesne, a surgeon, they had been glad to welcome. Thomas +Godefroy, Pierre Raye, and the Couillards formed quite a French colony. +They met now and then, and kept the old spirit alive with their songs +and stories.</p> + +<p>June had come again, and the town had begun to bloom. There were still +parties searching for the north sea, for the route to India, for the +great river that was said to lie beyond the lakes. The priests, too, +were stretching out their lines, especially the Jesuits, about whom +still lingers the flavor of heroic martyrdom. Father Breibouf coming +back for a short stay, to get some new word from France, told the fate +of one unfortunate party. Among them he said "was that fine Indian +interpreter, Savignon, who you must remember went to the rescue of a +party the last time he was in Quebec. He was a brave man, and a great +loss to us. He had come to an excellent state of mind, and was one of +the few Indians that give me faith in the salvation of the race."</p> + +<p>Rose's eyes were lustrous with tears as she listened to this eulogy. He +had proved nobler than his first passion of love. She had some Masses +said for his soul, but it pleased her better to give thanks to God for +his redemption.</p> + +<p>"Now you belong to no one but me," Destournier said to her some weeks +later, when she had recovered from her sorrow. "Yet I feel that it is +selfish to take your sweet youth. I am no longer young. I shall always +be a little lame, and never perhaps realize my dream of prosperity. But +I love you. I loved you as a little girl, you have always, in some +fashion, belonged to me."</p> + +<p>"I am glad to belong to you, to take your name. Do you remember that I +have no other name but Rose? You are very good to shelter me thus. I +think I could never have gone gladly to any one else. We are a part of +old Quebec, we are still French," and there was a little triumph in her +tone.</p> + +<p>It was true the English had taken possession after peace had been +declared, and had not the right to hold the country. When France +demanded the recession King Charles held off, and the Kirkes were +unwilling to yield up the government, as they found great profit in the +fur trade. But needing money sorely, and as the Queen's dowry as a +French princess had only been half paid, he made this a condition, and +Richelieu accepted it.</p> + +<p>So in 1632 Acadia, and all the important points in Canada, were ceded +back to France.</p> + +<p>In the spring of the next year Champlain was again commissioned +Governor, and he set sail from Dieppe, with three vessels freighted with +goods, provisions, and the farming implements of that day, clothing and +some of the new hand-looms, beside seeds of all kinds. Two hundred +persons, many of them married couples, and farmers were to found a new +Quebec.</p> + +<p>One May morning, just at sunrise, there was a great firing of bombards, +and for a brief while all was consternation and fear. But persons sent +out to explore, brought the welcome news of Champlain's return. Then +went up a mighty shout of joy, and the lilies of France were once more +unfurled to the breeze. There stood the stalwart old commander, whose +life work was crowned with success. All was gratulation. He must have +been touched by the ovation.</p> + +<p>M. and Madame Destournier were among the throng, while Wanamee carried +the little son, who stared about with wondering eyes, and smiled as if +he enjoyed the glad confusion.</p> + +<p>Even the Indians vied with the French, as he was triumphantly escorted +up the cliff, with colors flying and drums beating, and once more +received the keys of the fort. The spontaneous welcome showed how deep +he was in the affections of the people. He had been thwarted in many of +his plans, neglected, traduced, but this hour made amends.</p> + +<p>"Little Rose," he said, "thou art a part of old Quebec, but thy son +begins with the new régime. Heaven bless and prosper thee and thy +husband. I should have missed thee sorely had any untoward event +happened."</p> + +<p>The settlement at the foot of the cliff had been burned, but the upper +town, as it came to be called, had stretched out. The Héberts were on +the summit of the cliff, that part of the town where the ancient +bishops' palace stood for so long. Many of the former settlers had come +up here.</p> + +<p>"I had hoped Madame de Champlain would return with him," Rose said. "I +wonder if any time will ever come when I shall love myself better than +you."</p> + +<p>He bent over and kissed her. He had never quite understood love or known +what happiness was until now.</p> + +<p>When the Indians learned of the return of their beloved white chief, +they planned to come in a body, and salute him. Algonquins, Ottawas, +Montagnais, and the more friendly Hurons, came with their gifts, and +smoked the pipe of peace.</p> + +<p>In the autumn Champlain commenced the first parochial church, called, +appropriately, Notre Dame de Recouvrance. The Angelus was rung three +times a day. For now the brave old soldier had grown more religious, +there were no more exploring journeys, no more voyages across the stormy +ocean. He had said good-bye to his wife for the last time, though now, +perhaps, he understood her mystical devotion better.</p> + +<p>It was indeed a new Quebec. There was no more starvation, no more +digging of roots, and searches for edible food products. Their anxious +faces gave way to French gayety. Up and down the steep road-way, leading +from the warehouses to the rough, tumble-down tenements by the river, +men passed and repassed with jests and jollity, snatches of song or a +merry good-day, for it was indeed good. There were children of mixed +parentage, playing about, for Indian mothers were no uncommon thing. The +fort, the church, and the dwellings high up above, gave it a picturesque +aspect. You heard the boatmen singing their songs of old France as they +went up and down the beautiful river. Stone houses began to appear, +though wigwams still remained. New streets were opened, but they were +loth to level the hills, and some of them remain to this day.</p> + +<p>Ralph and Rose Destournier had a happy life. Children grew up around +them. A large, new house received them presently, but they kept a fond +remembrance for the old one that seemed somehow to belong exclusively to +Miladi and a dreamy sort of old life.</p> + +<p>A mixed population it was, shaped by the sincerity of their religion. +There were priests in their gray and black cassocks, officers in brave +trappings, traders, Indians, farmers, stout and strong, and the +picturesque <i>coureurs de bois</i>, that came to be a great feature, and +added not a little to the romance of the place. They were not all mere +adventurers, but they loved a roving life. Settlements were made here +and there, an important one at Three Rivers, where the Récollets +established a mission. The summers were given over to work and business, +thronged with traders and trappers, but they found time in the winters +for much social life.</p> + +<p>If the Sieur missed his old friend Hébert, there were others to take an +active interest in horticulture. Pontgrave was no more, but his grandson +kept up the name. A few years later the earnest young René de Robault +gave his fortune for the building of a college, and this kept the young +men from returning to old France for an education. Convent schools were +established, and Indian girls were trained in the amenities and +industries of social life. Montreal spread out her borders as well, the +Beauport road came to be a place of fine estates. All the way to the +mouth of the great river there were trading stations. The fur company's +business was good, there were new explorations to Lake Huron, Georgian +Bay, Lake Michigan, up to the Fox river.</p> + +<p>Of the sons and daughters growing up in the Destournier household, +Hélène, who should have been a devotee, was a merry madcap, who exceeded +her mother in daring feats, a dark-eyed, laughing maid the Indian girls +adored. She could manage a canoe, she could fly, they said, she took +such wonderful leaps. Rose could sing like a bird and had a fondness for +all animals. Little Barbe was a dainty, loving being, always clinging to +her mother, and three sons were devoted to their father whose snowy +white hair was like a crown of silver. They loved to hear the old tales, +and fired with resentment when the lilies of France had to give way to +the flag of England.</p> + +<p>"But they will never do it again," Robert Destournier would exclaim, +with flashing eyes.</p> + +<p>But they did almost a century later. Robert was not there to strike a +useless blow for his beloved land. That belongs to the story of a newer +Quebec, and now all the romances are gathered up into history.</p> + +<p>In the autumn of 1635 the brave, beloved Champlain passed away in the +heart of the city that had been his love, his ambition, his life-dream. +The explorer, the crusader, the sharer of toils and battles, his story +is one of the knightly romances of that period, and his name is +enshrined with that of old Quebec. Other heroes were to come, other +battles to be fought, much work for priest and civilian, but this is the +simplest, the bravest of them all, for its mighty work was done at great +odds.</p> + +<p>To-day you find the Citadel, the old French fort, but the wharves and +docks run out in the river, and there are steamboats, instead of canoes. +There is the Market Place and the City Hall, the Grande Allée St. Louis +Place and Gate, the crowded business-point, with its ferries, the great +Louise basin and embankment. The city runs out to St. Charles river, and +stretches on and on until you reach the Convent of the Sacred Heart. +There are still the upper and the lower town, and the steep ways, the +heights that Wolfe climbed, the world-famed Plains of Abraham.</p> + +<p>Everywhere is historic ground, monuments of courage, zeal, and religion. +The streets have old names. Here on a height so steep you wonder how +they are content to climb it, juts out a little stone eyrie, just as it +stood a hundred years ago. Three or four generations have lived within +its walls, and they are as French to-day as they were then. They want +nothing of the modern gauds of the present. Grandmothers used the clumsy +furniture, and it is almost worth a king's ransom, it has so many +legends woven around it.</p> + +<p>There is the Château Frontenac, that recalls romance and bravery. There +are churches, with their stories. There are the old Jesuit barracks, out +of which went many a heroic soul to face martyrdom, there is the Chien +d'Or, with its stone dog gnawing a bone, and the romance of Nicolas +Jaquin Philibert, the brave Huguenot.</p> + +<p>There are old graveyards, where rest the pioneers who prayed, and hoped, +and starved with Champlain. All the stories can never be written, all +the monuments that speak of glory do not tell of the sufferings. Yet +there were happy lives, and happy loves, as well. The storms die out, +the light and sunshine dry up the tears, and courage is given to go on.</p> + +<p>The old French days have left their impress. Champlain will always be a +living memory, as the founder of one of the marvellous cities of the +world. Gay little girls run about and climb the heights, they dance and +sing, and have their festivals, and are happy in the thrice-renewed +Quebec. Many a Rose has blossomed and faded since the days of +Destournier.</p> + +<p>THE END</p> + + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> + + +<h2><a name="The_Little_Girl_Series" id="The_Little_Girl_Series"></a><span class="smcap">The "Little Girl" Series</span></h2> + +<h3>By AMANDA M. DOUGLAS</h3> + + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">A Little Girl in Old New York<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">A Little Girl of Long Ago<br /></span> +<span class="i2">A sequel to "A Little Girl in Old New York"<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">A Little Girl in Old Boston<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">A Little Girl in Old Philadelphia<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">A Little Girl in Old Washington<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">A Little Girl in Old New Orleans<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">A Little Girl in Old Detroit<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">A Little Girl in Old St. Louis<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">A Little Girl in Old Chicago<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">A Little Girl in Old San Francisco<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">A Little Girl in Old Quebec<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">A Little Girl in Old Baltimore<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">A Little Girl in Old Salem<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">A Little Girl in Old Pittsburg<br /></span> +</div></div> + + +<h4>For Sale by all Booksellers or will be sent postpaid on receipt of price.</h4> + + +<h3>A. L. BURT COMPANY, PUBLISHERS<br /> +52, 58 Duane Street New York</h3> + + + + + + + + +<pre> + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of A Little Girl in Old Quebec, by +Amanda Millie Douglas + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK A LITTLE GIRL IN OLD QUEBEC *** + +***** This file should be named 23779-h.htm or 23779-h.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/2/3/7/7/23779/ + +Produced by Marilynda Fraser-Cunliffe, J.P.W. Fraser, Mary +Meehan and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at +http://www.pgdp.net + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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