teeth
and full red lips; straight, well-developed figure very neatly dressed;
and large black eyes which looked capable of so many things, that they
found it difficult to settle for any length of time to any one
expression.

"It is very kind of you, madame," said Gard, "but--" and he stood
looking at her and hesitating how to put it.

"You mean about Tom," she laughed. "But that is all past. I have spoken
to him, and he promises to behave himself quite properly if you will
come. Voila!"

Just for a moment the possibilities of the suggestion caught his mind.
He would be near Nance all the time. He would be saved much tiresome
walking to and fro. Especially he would be saved that passage of the
Coupee, which at night, even with a lantern, was not a thing one easily
got accustomed to, and on stormy nights was enough to make one's hair
fly. Then this woman was very different from his present landlady, and
would probably, he thought, have different notions of comfort.

The quick black eyes caught something of what was in him: and he, as
suddenly, caught something of what lurked, consciously or unconsciously,
in them, and a little tremor of repugnance shook his heart and braced
him back to reason.

He shook his head. "It would not do, madame. He and I would never get on
together, no matter how hard we tried. I thank you for the offer all the
same," and he made as though to pass her.

"I wish you would come," she said, and laid a pleading hand on his arm.
"I'm sure he would try to behave. I can generally manage him except when
he's been drinking. Then I'm afraid of him, and wish some one else was
at hand. But that's only when he's been out all night at the fishing,
and it's soon over and done with. Do come, monsieur!"--It was almost a
whisper now, and she leaned towards him--the rich dark face--the great
solicitous eyes.

But she had mistaken her man. Perhaps she had not met many like him.

He shook off her hand almost brusquely.

"It is impossible, madame. I could not," and he pushed past just as
Nance came to the door.

She had seen him coming, heard their voices outside, and wondered what
was keeping him.

She turned back into the house when she saw Julie, wondering still more.
For Gard's face was disturbed, and had in it something of the look she
had seen more than once when he had faced Tom in his tantrums.

And, glancing past him, she had seen what he had not--Julie's face when
he turned his back on her.