For a moment the thought
possessed him that evil and ill had come to her. But he put it away from
him, for there was that in her eyes which gave his quick suspicions the
lie. He guessed now that the girl loved Valmond, and he left her with
that thought. Going up the hill, deep in thought, he called at the
Manor, to find that Madame Chalice was absent, and would not be back
till evening.

When Elise was left alone, a weakness seized her again, as it had done
when De la Riviere was present. She had had no sleep in four days, and
it was wearing on her, she said to herself, refusing to believe that a
sickness was coming. Leaving the kitchen, she went up to her bedroom.
Opening the window, she sat down on the side of the bed and looked
round. She figured Valmond in her mind as he stood in this place and
that, his voice, his words to her, the look in his face, the clasp of
his hand.

All at once she sprang up, fell on her knees before the little shrine of
the Virgin, and burst into tears. Her rich hair, breaking loose, flowed
round her-the picture of a Magdalen; but it was, in truth, a pure girl
with a true heart. At last she calmed herself and began to pray:

"Ah, dear Mother of God, thou who dost speak for the sorrowful before
thy Son and the Father, be merciful to me and hear me. I am but a poor
girl, and my life is no matter. But he is a great man, and he has work
to do, and he is true and kind. Oh, pray for him, divine Mother, sweet
Mary, that he may be saved from death! If the cup must be emptied, may
it be given to me to drink! Oh, see how all the people come to him and
love him! For the saving of Madelinette, oh, may his own life be given
him! He cannot pray for himself, but I pray for him. Dear Mother of God,
I love him, and I would lose my life for his sake. Sweet Mary, comfort
thy child, and out of thy own sorrow be good to my sorrow. Hear me and
pray for me, divine Mary. Amen."

Her whole nature had been emptied out, and there came upon her a calm, a
strange clearness of brain, exhausted in body as she was. For an instant
she stood thinking.

"Madame Degardy! Madame Degardy!" she cried, with sudden inspiration.
"Ah, I will find her; she may save him with her herbs!"

She hurried out of the house and down through the village to the little
hut by the river, where the old woman lived.

Elise had been to Madame Degardy as good a friend as a half-mad
creature, with no memory, would permit her. Parpon had lived