you bread in Nismes. Why not return there? The authorities are
welcoming all that conform."

"Death rather than that!" said she, clasping her hands to her heart, and
turning away.

"Stay, stay. Here is bread for you. It is all we have."

"Ah! bless--." She could say no more, but sobbed bitterly. La Croissette
turned his face away.

"There are many of us, many!" sobbed she. "We shall so bless you. We
will pray for you."

"Do so; do," said he, affecting composure, and whipping on.

CHAPTER IX.

CAST DOWN, BUT NOT DESTROYED.

The moon had now risen, and shone full on our road, which was completely
exposed; but happily we met with no hindrance. The motion of the cart
now made me very drowsy, and I fell into deep dreamless sleep. When I
woke, feeling stiff and chilled, I wondered where I was. The cart had
stopped, I was alone, the gray light of morning was forcing its way
through the chinks of my little lodging-house, but the door was locked.
I thought my position a curious one, and wondered whether La Croissette
was going to give me up after all, to my enemies, but could not readily
distrust a fellow apparently so kind-hearted. I lay still and listened
to the sounds about me; the clucking of hens, gobbling of turkeys,
stamping of horses, and lowing of calves, told me I was in a farm-yard.
Then I heard voices, including that of La Croissette, and presently a
sharp cry and then a laugh. By-and-by, the key turned in the lock and
he looked in on me.

"So ho, you are awake after a famous long nap," said he. "Do you want
your breakfast?"

"If I do, want must be my master," said I, returning his smile. "We gave
away our only loaf."

"But what if I have earned another, and a good bowl of milk?" rejoined
La Croissette, producing both as he spoke. "There, sit up and eat your
fill; I've had my share in the house."

"Where are we?" said I, readily obeying his instructions.

"At a wayside farm-house, where the honest people have given my horse
a good feed, and you and me a good breakfast."

"How did you earn it, then?"

"By pulling out a tooth for a great lubberly boy, whose cheek had
swollen enormously with toothache. Did you not hear him cry out? You
might almost have heard him from here to Nismes."

"Yes, I heard him cry and then laugh."

"Because he was so glad to have got rid of it."

"Can you draw teeth, then?"

"I never drew one before, but I went at it as if it was a regular thing
with me."