first. And when he gently lifts
the dead Jocint, the father this time makes no hinderance, for he too
has gone beyond the knowledge of all earthly happenings.

VII

Melicent Leaves Place-du-Bois.

There had been no witness to the killing of Jocint; but there were few
who did not recognize Gregoire's hand in the affair. When met with the
accusation, he denied it, or acknowledged it, or evaded the charge
with a jest, as he felt for the moment inclined. It was a deed
characteristic of any one of the Santien boys, and if not altogether
laudable--Jocint having been at the time of the shooting unarmed--yet
was it thought in a measure justified by the heinousness of his
offense, and beyond dispute, a benefit to the community.

Hosmer reserved the expression of his opinion. The occurrence once
over, with the emotions which it had awakened, he was inclined to look
at it from one of those philosophic stand-points of his friend
Homeyer. Heredity and pathology had to be considered in relation with
the slayer's character. He saw in it one of those interesting problems
of human existence that are ever turning up for man's contemplation,
but hardly for the exercise of man's individual judgment. He was
conscious of an inward repulsion which this action of Gregoire's
awakened in him,--much the same as a feeling of disgust for an animal
whose instinct drives it to the doing of violent deeds,--yet he made
no difference in his manner towards him.

Therese was deeply distressed over this double tragedy: feeling keenly
the unhappy ending of old Morico. But her chief sorrow came from the
callousness of Gregoire, whom she could not move even to an avowal of
regret. He could not understand that he should receive any thing but
praise for having rid the community of so offensive and dangerous a
personage as Jocint; and seemed utterly blind to the moral aspect of
his deed.

An event at once so exciting and dramatic as this conflagration, with
the attendant deaths of Morico and his son, was much discussed amongst
the negroes. They were a good deal of one opinion in regard to Jocint
having been only properly served in getting "w'at he done ben lookin'
fu' dis long time." Gregoire was rather looked upon as a clever
instrument in the Lord's service; and the occurrence pointed a moral
which they were not likely to forget.

The burning of the mill entailed much work upon Hosmer, to which he
turned with a zest--an absorption that for the