The Lane That Had No Turning, Volume 1.

heart, endeared himself to the parish. Therefore the notables among the habitants had gathered in his empty house for a last drink of good-fellowship-Muroc the charcoalman, Duclosse the mealman, Ben

e's

an here should raise the glass first and say the votre

out to make another camp for himself in the world, all because of the new Seigneur of Pontiac. Time was when he had been successful here, but Louis Racine had changed all

m to stay, but he had replied that it was

rds Medallion. He came over and fille

w Madelinette, as did you all, when I could take her on my knee and tell her English stories, and listen to her sing French chansons-the best in the world. She has gone on; we stay

ng his glass, Medallion let it fall on the

e said. "Tell her the highest bidder on earth could not buy on

with them all and we

s glass?" asked Gin

damnedest toast that ever was," said Duclosse t

know about aristocr

f the land, now that Mad

ght to wear a co

eunesse to-morrow, and I'll die Joe Lajeunesse the forgeron-bagosh! So you take me as you find me. M'sieu' Racine doesn't marry me. And Madelinette doesn't t

"you'll not need to work now. Madelinette's got double fortune. She gets thousands for a s

t what they earn, and live by it. Let a man live according to his gifts-bagosh! Till I'm sent for, that's what I'll do; and whe

olt, the ne'er-do-weel, who

hat?" sa

trying to find eggs in last year's

ur," said Muroc. "Lo

king up a dust that'

was an imp in him

dust here," said Lajeunesse. "H

g back the Napoleons-I have my sword yet. Now it's save Quebec. It's stand alone and have our own flag, and shout, and fight, mayb

oo. M'sieu' sold him up and shipped

rs when he left, to help him along. He sm

the days of Vaudreuil and Louis the Saint," said Duclosse. "I've

of charcoal," said Muroc. "'Tis th

sts in back, or leg, or body anywhere, gets a twist in's brain t

ger in the world, though she's only the daugh

a man of fame, walking bloody paths to glory; but, by the grace of Heaven and my baptis

" said Duclosse the mealman, who had been

anged firs

said Muroc. "There's the Seigne

rted the court under the big tree, as the Seigneurs did two

the one-eyed shoemaker. Without a word, Lajeunesse threw a dish of water i

distant blare of a bugle. They rushed to the door, and were met by Parpon th

or's visit, and the lily-flag of France on the Manor, an

Benoit, and drained his glass to the l

m up. He had disbanded the corps, but he had not given up the arms, and, for reasons unknown, the Government had not pressed the point, so far as the world knew. But it had decided to hold a district drill in this far-off portion of the Province; and this summer morning two thousand men marched 'upon the town and through it, horse, foot, and commissariat, and Pontiac was roused out of the last-century romance the Seigneur had sought to c

ssed through the street, he wa

g, which she was preparing for a flag-staff. When she saw him, she dropped the flag, a

wonders!"

replied shortly. "What of

on't know what their comi

ouring Pontiac," she replied gaily, but her

I don't know what you mean to do; but I do know that M'sieu' Racine is

as Loui

customs he's got out of old coffins, to make us believe they're alive. Why did he ever try to marry you? W

id: "Oh, father, father, can't you see, I loved him-that is why I married him. You ask me what I am going to do? I am going to give the rest of my life to him. I am going to stay with him, and be to him all t

what he doe

ter wha

kings and courts, and not earn ten thousand dollars a month-more t

hand pleadingly. To him it seemed that his daugh

nswered quietly. "There are

hat you can love him as

, it i

oved my mother that last year of her life, when she was a cr

nd kept turning it round in his hand. "But you'll prevent hi

ented them-refused to let them enter. The men did not know what to do, and so they went back. And now this-!" she pointed to where the soldiers were pitching their tents

Pontiac already," said Laj

ather, big smithy-man," she said lovingly. "You make me think of the strong men in the Niebelu

ish in good humour by her unconventional ways, as though people were not beginning to make pilgrimages to Pontiac to see her-people who stared at the name over the blacksmith's door, and eyed her curiously, or lay in wait about the Seigneury, that they might get a glimpse of Madame and her deformed husband. Out in the world where she was now so important, the newspapers told strange romantic tales of the great singer, wove wild and wonderful legends of her life. To her

er, but she had resolved her heart against it. In his rough but tender way her father now understood, and that was a comfort to her.

nd we shall all be happy then. Louis has promised me to make a speech that will not b

cross her face. "But you can make him do anything-as you always made me," he added, shak