ip, and felt his words were being proved true when he
discovered that an attachment was springing up between his daughter
Marguerite and the young soldier. On becoming aware of this his rage was
unbounded, and he repeatedly said he would be the death of Charlie if he
could manage it. He tried in every way to bring his son to his way of
thinking, but though Hirzel did not much like the idea of his sister
marrying a Royalist soldier, and besides which another friend and
fellow-countryman of his Jacques Gaultier, was also much attached to the
fair Marguerite, and had long persecuted her with his unwelcome
attentions, still Hirzel would have done anything rather than have
injured his friend Charlie, whom he liked well, though he did not like
his principles. In Jacques Gaultier the old miller saw a ready tool
towards gaining his wicked end of destroying Charlie. The latter did not
think Pierre's hatred reached the extent it did, at the same time he was
still aware there was no chance of his ever gaining the old man's
consent to his marrying Marguerite.

One night Pierre sent his son to bring Jacques Gaultier saying, he
wished to speak to him about taking some flour into the town next day.
Jacques was only too delighted to get any excuse for going to the mill,
and immediately said he would accompany Hirzel if he "would wait until
he got something which he had been making for Marguerite."

"All right, Jacques, my boy, but look sharp, as the old man seems
impatient to-night."

"Thy tone and way of speaking savour far more of the style of that base
soldiery which our island is burdened with, than the tone of thy
father's son should be," replied Jacques.

"Very well," said Hirzel, "I will promise to mend my ways, but do be
quick, as I promised to walk with my sister at seven, and now it is nigh
on half-past; and she says she needs my counsel much on a matter."

"Ah! thou art an impatient lad, but it would be worse with me were I in
thy case; long till she'd ask me to walk with her, not I warrant were I
dying for a look at her sweet face."

"Don't be down-hearted, Jacques, how know'st thou but that my sister
may change her mind and look kindly on thee yet; wait till the Redcoats
have gone down to the Castle, and then perhaps thy fishers' garb may
find favour in her sight, but what hast thou got there? Some woman's
trifles, which thou seem'st to understand better than I have yet
learned."

"I made these sore against my will