e
neither wife nor daughter; but Miss Carey is already there, preparing
rooms for you and your little charge. We have made inquiries about the
little girl, and find she has no friends living. I will take care of her
future. Do you think you could trust yourself and her to me?"

"Oh, yes!" I replied, but I moved a little nearer to Monsieur Laurentie,
and put my hand through his arm. He folded his own thin, brown hand over
it caressingly, and looked down at me, with something like tears
glistening in his eyes.

"Is it all settled?" he asked, "is monsieur come to rob me of my English
daughter? She will go away now to her own island, and forget
Ville-en-bois and her poor old French father!"

"Never! never!" I answered vehemently, "I shall not forget you as long
as I live. Besides, I mean to come back very often; every year if I can.
I almost wish I could stay here altogether; but you know that is
impossible, monsieur. Is it not quite impossible?"

"Quite impossible!" he repeated, somewhat sadly, "madame is too rich
now; she will have many good friends."

"Not one better than you," I said, "not one more dear than you. Yes, I
am rich; and I have been planning something to do for Ville-en-bois.
Would you like the church enlarged and beautified, Monsieur le Cure?"

"It is large enough and fine enough already," he answered.

"Shall I put some painted windows and marble images into it?" I asked.

"No, no, madame," he replied, "let it remain as it is during my short
lifetime."

"I thought so," I said, "but I believe I have discovered what Monsieur
le Cure would approve. It is truly English. There is no sentiment, no
romance about it. Cannot you guess what it is, my wise and learned
monsieur?"

"No, no, madame," he answered, smiling in spite of his sadness.

"Listen, dear monsieur," I continued: "if this village is unhealthy for
me, it is unhealthy for you and your people. Dr. Martin told Tardif
there would always be fever here, as long as there are no drains and no
pure water. Very well; now I am rich I shall have it drained, precisely
like the best English town; and there shall be a fountain in the middle
of the village, where all the people can go to draw good water. I shall
come back next year to see how it has been done, _Voila_, monsieur!
There is my secret plan for Ville-en-bois."

Nothing could have been more effectual for turning away Monsieur
Laurentie's thoughts from the mournful topic of our near separatio