en. I should never have
left you; but now we are together again, and when you are well
nothing shall part us."

"Will you stay with me now? I am afraid here! It is all so strange,
and I am not well," she ended, pitifully.

"Yes, Lucy, I will stay. But first I must ask permission, and send
word to Mme. de Sarennes."

"Will you say to her that I am sorry?"

"Yes, dear; but no one is blaming you."

"You are all good," she said, with a sigh of content; and I ran
off to obtain a ready approval of my stay from both the Superior
and Angelique, who promised to return on the morrow.

My presence was all that was needed to quiet Lucy, and she passed
a restful night, to awaken so greatly improved that she readily
talked of her wanderings. It was much as I had suspected; M. de
Sarennes had wilfully encouraged and deceived her, feeding her
delusion at every opportunity, even giving her directions for her
road, in the evident intent of getting her out of the way, to have
a freer hand in his designs. It was a relief to find that every
one had treated her with kindness, and that she had found a shelter
in St. Roch, with a widow, who was thankful for the trifle she paid
for her lodging. Once she reached Quebec she was quite content,
for she had only to wait until Christopher might appear. She gave
no reason why she was wandering out by the St. Charles, and I did
not question her; but no doubt she had really been ill for days,
and was not fully conscious of her action.

Mme. de Sarennes came with Angelique in the morning, and it was
touching to see how lively an interest this quiet Lucy had awakened
in both their hearts.

"You are in good hands, my dear," said the old lady, graciously.
"Show your gratitude by getting well and coming back to us."

"I will do my best, madame. God has been very good to me," she
answered, in halting French; whereupon Mme. de Sarennes patted her
cheek, and left to speak with her friend the Superior.

As she was going, Angelique beckoned me into the corridor, and
whispered: "I was thinking last night that we might ask M. de
Maxwell to come and give her news of her boy when he was in
Louisbourg. You know Charles told us he was much with him there,
and I am sure my mother can obtain leave from the Superior. What
do you think?"

"I think it would do her more good than anything else in the world,
We will ask her."

"Lucie," asked Angelique, "would you like me to bring a gentleman
who was in Louis