A Sister to Evangeline

a palpable air of constraint. Monsieur de Lamourie regarded me with something almost like suspicion. Madame eyed me with a curious scrutiny,

frank satisfac

rocked firebrand, monsieur. You must have great influence at he

victory over the notorious Black Abbé. There was doubtless a vai

ought I might even be driven to threats ill fitting the dignity o

rd you as one having authori

h that dryness in her voice, "a

oiselle. Her eyes were gazing steadily into the

why. It seemed as if I lay under some obscure but

am I like to be engaged in such work as shall make one needful. And as for this Vaurin," I demanded, turning to Yvonne, "who is

ry scoundrel, a spy and an assassin, who does the dirty work of those who employ him. I

ness-as I afterwards remembered-came back to the faces of Monsieur and Madame de Lamourie, and Yvonne's eyes shone upon me for an instant with a wistf

he public thieves whom the intendant puts in power to-day. One never knows wha

e," asked Anderson, "when they wh

las, the most grievous enemies of New France are those within her gate! Bigot is the prince of robbers. His hands an

ch the intendant Bigot was the too efficient captain. Seating myself again by the hearth, I gave bitter account of the wrong and infamy at Quebec, and showed how, to the anguish of her faithfu

me, at last, on my silence; but Yvonne came quickly and sweetly to my help, recalling my long day's journey and insisting upon

wormwood it had seemed to me delicate from her hand-I tri

om God had made me. The whole truth, as I felt it, required both statements to perfect its expression. There she sat, so near that her voice was making a wonder of music in my ears, so near that her eyes from time to time flashed a palpable radiance upon my face; yet fu

d out to her, for a look of alarm, yet not wholly of denial, flickered for one heart-beat in her gaze. She rose, with a little aimless movement, looked at me, swayed her body toward me

watched her I cursed him-yet ere the curse had gone forth I blessed him 41bitterly. How could I curse him when I saw t

is ruddy, somewhat square face, with its good chin and kind mouth; his frank and cheerful blue eyes, fearless but not aggressive; his air of directness and good intention-all compelled my tribute of admiration, and made me think little of my own sombre and sallow countenance, with its straight black hair, straight black brows, straight

He had, as I kept telling myself, Yvonne's love; yet-had he? So obstinate is hope, I would not yield all credence to this telling. At least I had one advantage, if no other. I was wiser than he in this, that I knew my love fo