outh's returned comrades were all back at
their ploughs again and among their herds. 'Thanase would be along by
and by, they said; he could not come with them, for he had not been
paroled with them; he had been missing--taken prisoner, no doubt--in
the very last fight. But presently they who had been prisoners were
home also, and still 'Thanase had not come. And then, instead of
'Thanase coming, Chaouache died.

A terror took up its home in the heart of Bonaventure. Every thing he
looked upon, every creature that looked upon him, seemed to offer an
unuttered accusation. Least of all could he bear the glance of
Zosephine. He did not have to bear it. She kept at home now closely.
She had learned to read, and Sosthene and his _vieille_ had pronounced
her education completed.

In one direction only could the eyes of Bonaventure go, and meet
nothing that accused him: that was into the face of the cure. And lest
accusation should spring up there, he had omitted his confession for
weeks. He was still child enough not to see that the priest was
watching him narrowly and tenderly.

One night, away in the small hours, the cure was aroused by the
presence of some one in his room.

"Who is that?" He rose from his pillow.

"It is I, father," said a low voice, and against the darkness of an
inner door he saw dimly the small, long nightdress of the boy he
loved.

"What gets you up, Bonaventure? Come here. What troubles you?"

"I cannot sleep," murmured the lad, noiselessly moving near. The
priest stroked the lad's brow.

"Have you not been asleep at all?"

"Yes."

"But you have had bad dreams that woke you?"

"Only one."

"And what was that?"

There was a silence.

"Did you dream about--'Thanase, for example?"

"Yes."

The priest reached out and took the boy's small, slender hands in his.
They were moist and cold.

"And did you dream"--

"I dreamed he was dead. I dream it every night."

"But, my child, that does not make it so. Would you like to get into
bed here with me? No?--or to go back now to your own bed? No? What,
then?"

"I do not want to go back to bed any more. I want to go and find
'Thanase."

"Why, my child, you are not thoroughly awake, are you?"

"Yes, I want to go and find 'Thanase. I have been thinking to-night of
all you have told me--of all you said that day in the garden,--and--I
want to go and find 'Thanase."

"My boy," said the priest, drawing the lad with gentle force to his
bos