dinary to D'Aulnay de Charnisay, who is
notable for seizing other men's goods."

"Edelwald, you bring ill news?"

"There was none other to bring."

"Is Charles La Tour then in such straits that we are to have no relief
in this fortress?"

"We can look for nothing, Lady Dorinda."

"Thou seest now, Edelwald, how France requites his service. If he had
listened to his father he might to-day be second to none in Acadia, with
men and wealth in abundance."

"Yet, your ladyship, we love our France!"

"Oh, you do put me out of patience! But the discomforts and perils of
this siege have scarce left me any. We are walled together here like
sheep."

"It is trying, your ladyship, but if we succeed in keeping the butcher
out we may do better presently."

Marie sent her woman for writing tools, and was busy with them when
Edelwald returned in his ordinary rich dark dress. She made him a place
beside her on the settle, and submitted the paper to his eye. The women
and children listened. They knew their situation was desperate.
Whispering together they decided with their lady that she would do best
to save her soldiers and sacrifice the fort.

Edelwald read the terms she intended to demand, and then looked aside at
the beautiful and tender woman who had borne the hardships of war. She
should do anything she wished. It was worth while to surrender if
surrendering decreased her care. All Acadia was nothing when weighed
against her peace of mind. He felt his rage mounting against Charles La
Tour for leaving her exposed in this frontier post, the instrument of
her lord's ambition and political feud. In Edelwald's silent and
unguessed warfare with his secret, he had this one small half hour's
truce. Marie sat under his eyes in firelight, depending on the comfort
of his presence. Rapture opened its sensitive flower and life
culminated for him. Unconscious of it, she wrote down his suggestions,
bending her head seriously to the task.

Edelwald himself finally made a draft of the paper for D'Aulnay. The
weary men had thrown themselves down to sleep, and heard no colloquy.
But presently the cook was aroused from among them and bid to set out
such a feast as he had never before made in Fort St. John.

"Use of our best supplies," directed Marie. "To-morrow we may give up
all we have remaining to the enemy. We will eat a great supper together
this Paques night."

The cook took an assistant and labored well. Kettles and pans multipl