h could not be
got rid of; he followed her night and day. Never was a good soldier,
for he was that from head to foot, more lovelorn and love-docile. The
maiden had completely subdued the man.

About this time, deep in a rainy and pitch-black night, Gaspard
Roussillon came home. He tapped on the door again and again. Alice
heard, but she hesitated to speak or move. Was she growing cowardly?
Her heart beat like a drum. There was but one person in all the world
that she could think of--it was not M. Roussillon. Ah, no, she had
well-nigh forgotten her gigantic foster father.

"It is I, ma cherie, it is Gaspard, my love, open the door," came in a
booming half-whisper from without. "Alice, Jean, it is your Papa
Roussillon, my dears. Let me in."

Alice was at the door in a minute, unbarring it. M. Roussillon entered,
armed to the teeth, the water dribbling from his buckskin clothes.

"Pouf!" he exclaimed, "my throat is like dust." His thoughts were
diving into the stores under the floor. "I am famished. Dear children,
dear little ones! They are glad to see papa! Where is your mama?"

He had Alice in his arms and Jean clung to his legs. Madame Roussillon,
to be sure of no mistake, lighted a lamp with a brand that smoldered on
the hearth and held it up, then, satisfied as to her husband's
identity, set it on a shelf and flung herself into the affectionate
group with clumsy abandon, making a great noise.

"Oh, my dear Gaspard!" she cried as she lunged forward. "Gaspard,
Gaspard!" Her voice fairly lifted the roof; her great weight, hurled
with such force, overturned everybody, and all of them tumbled in a
heap, the rotund and solid dame sitting on top.

"Ouf! not so impetuous, my dear," puffed M. Roussillon, freeing himself
from her unpleasant pressure and scrambling to his feet. "Really you
must have fared well in my absence, Madame, you are much heavier." He
laughed and lifted her up as if she had been a child, kissing her
resonantly.

His gun had fallen with a great clatter. He took it from the floor and
examined it to see if it had been injured, then set it in a corner.

"I am afraid we have been making too much noise," said Alice, speaking
very low. "There is a patrol guard every night now. If they should hear
you--"

"Shh!" whispered M. Roussillon, "we will be very still. Alice, is there
something to eat and a drop of wine handy? I have come many miles; I am
tired, hungry, thirsty,--ziff!"

Alice brought some