. She was merely
undergoing a vague and potent influence that penetrated her very soul.
She closed the door again very softly, and when she sat again it was
with a strange feeling of contentment, or at any rate a surcease of
bitter thoughts, which affected her gently, like the heat of the
little stove.

Maigan soon scratched at the door again, and through the frosted glass
Madge saw Mrs. Papineau approaching. She was looking rather tired and
dismal. It was evident, from her panting, that she had hurried, but
now she was coming very slowly, as if afraid to hear bad news. But
when she finally came in and looked at Hugo, her fat face took on some
of its wonted cheerfulness.

"Heem no look so bad now," she asserted. "Who know? Mebbe get all
right again, eh? What Docteur Starr heem say before he go?"

Madge was compelled to give her a long account of how the night had
passed and to describe every move and relate every word of the
doctor.

"Dat's good," approved Mrs. Papineau. "Now you go to our 'ouse an' get
to bed an' 'ave sleep. If de children make noise tell 'em I slap 'em
plenty ven I get back, sure. You need bad for to sleep--h'eyes look
tired an' red."

She explained that Papineau had been obliged to go off after some
traps that were not very far away, and would return by midday. She
insisted upon the need of Madge to impress the children with the
virtues of silence. They had already been informed that if they did
not keep still when the lady returned they would be given to the
_loup-garou_ and other mythical and traditional terrors of _habitant_
childhood.

"Me stay 'ere all day. Den you come back an' stay de night, if you
lak'. You tell me vat I do."

The good lady found her endeavors useless, however. Hadn't the doctor
said that incessant care might perhaps, with luck, bring about a
recovery? And Hugo had been better--he had spoken--he might speak
again and want something she might get him. Moreover, the dressing was
to be changed very soon and the drainage tubes were to be flushed out
once in so often with the solution the doctor had left. To have gone
away then would have been desertion; she never entertained the thought
for an instant.

Hence she attended to these things, in the presence of Mrs. Papineau,
who looked quite awed at the proceedings. Generally the man seemed
quite unconscious of what she did, and there was little complaint from
him; just a few moans and perhaps a slight drawing away when