her house was sold, and that every one there
would think it very strange that she had gone away like that only to
return again so soon.

But he was not to be shaken in his determination. "Ah, even if that
were true," Father Anton had said to her only yesterday, "nevertheless,
my little Marie-Louise, it is the thing you must do. I cannot let you
do anything else; and in a little while--who knows!--you will be very
happy there again. But it is not true, for there is a way that I have
been thinking about as I came here. As for the house, it is as well
that it is sold; you have the money, and besides it is much better that
you should not live there alone--you will live for a while with those
honest Fregeaus, who will be overjoyed. And as for the rest--see,
Marie-Louise, this is what we will do! I will speak to Monsieur Bliss
and tell him that I wish to go back for a little visit, and we will go
together--and the good people of Bernay-sur-Mer will not think it
strange at all then, for I will tell them that you have been with me
here in Paris, and that it is I who have persuaded you that it is best
for you to go back and live in Bernay-sur-Mer. _Tiens_, could anything
be better? And I will speak to Monsieur Bliss at once."

She knew quite well what was in Father Anton's mind. If she were in
Bernay-sur-Mer he would feel that she was quite safe, that no harm
could come to her; and he had mentioned, so innocently as he believed,
Amide Dubois once or twice, and he was perhaps imagining that some day
she would marry there. But he did not understand! She shook her head
slowly; and then, suddenly rousing herself, she walked across the room
to the little bureau, and took out her things, and laid them upon the
bed, and began to make them up into a little bundle--the same bundle
she had carried with her from Bernay-sur-Mer. He did not understand!

It was all arranged! Father Anton had seen Monsieur Bliss then--and
perhaps it would be to-morrow, or maybe even to-night that Father Anton
would want her to go with him. But she could not go back to
Bernay-sur-Mer! For nothing in the world would she go back there! If
there were no other reasons, there was one that alone made it
impossible--some day Jean might return there himself for a visit. And
she must go somewhere where there was no possibility that she and Jean
should ever see each other--and she must go now while she had the
chance. There was nothing to keep her any