veins, she
was good-looking, she had a quick wit, she was an excellent
horse-woman--what then? If she wasn't so "well bred," that was a matter
of training and opportunity which had never quite been hers. What was he
himself? A loafer, "a deuced unfortunate loafer," but still a loafer.
He had no trade and no profession. Confound it! how much better off,
and how much better in reality, were these people who had trades and
occupations. In the vigour and lithe activity of that girl's body was
the force of generations of honest workers. He argued and thought--as
every intelligent man in his position would have done--until he had come
into the old life again, and into the presence of the old advantages and
temptations!

Christine pulled up for a moment on a little hill, and waved her whip.
He shook his handkerchief from the window. That was their prearranged
signal. He shook it until she had driven away beyond the hill and was
lost to sight, and still stood there at the window looking out.

Presently Madame Lavilette appeared in the garden below, and he was
sure, from the way she glanced up at the window, and from her position
in the shrubbery, that she had seen the signal. Madame did not look
displeased. On the contrary, though an alliance with Christine now
seemed unlikely, because of the state of Ferrol's health and his
religion and nationality, it pleased her to think that it might have
been.

When she had passed into the house, Ferrol sat down on the broad
window-sill, and looked out the way Christine had gone. He was thinking
of the humiliation of his position, and how it would be more humiliating
when he married Christine, should the Lavilettes turn against
them--which was quite possible. And from outside: the whole parish--a
few excepted--sympathised with the Rebellion, and once the current of
hatred of the English set in, he would be swept down by it. There were
only three English people in the place. Then, if it became known that
he had given information to the authorities, his life would be less
uncertain than it was just now. Yet, confound the dirty lot of little
rebels, it served them right! He couldn't sit by and see a revolt
against British rule without raising a hand. Warn Nic? To what good?
The result would be just the same. But if harm came to this intended
brother-in-law-well, why borrow trouble? He was not the Lord in Heaven,
that he could have everything as he wanted it! It was a toss-up, and he
woul