anne Castine, and I will save her from you--but, yes! It is nothing to
the world, to Bonaventure, that you are a robber; it is everything to
her. You are all robbers--you English--cochons!"
He opened the door and went out. Ferrol was about to follow him, but he
had a sudden fit of weakness, and he caught up a pillow, and, throwing
it on the chest where Shangois had sat, stretched himself upon it. He
lay still for quite a long time, and presently fell into a doze. In
those days no event made a lasting impression on him. When it was over
it ended, so far as concerned any disturbing remembrances of it. He was
awakened (he could not have slept for more than fifteen minutes) by a
tapping at his door, and his name spoken softly. He went to the door and
opened it. It was Christine. He thought she seemed pale, also that she
seemed nervous; but her eyes were full of light and fire, and there was
no mistaking the look in her face: it was all for him. He set down her
agitation to the adventure they were about to make together. He stepped
back, as if inviting her to enter, but she shook her head.
"No, not this morning. I will meet you at the old mill in half an hour.
The parish is all mad about the Rebellion, and no one will notice or
talk of anything else. I have the best pair of horses in the stable; and
we can drive it in two hours, easy."
She took a paper from her pocket.
"This is--the--license," she added, and she blushed. Then, with a sudden
impulse, she stepped inside the room, threw her arms about his neck and
kissed him, and he clasped her to his breast.
"My darling Tom!" she said, and then hastened away, with tears in her
eyes.
He saw the tears. "I wonder what they were for?" he said musingly, as
he opened up the official blue paper. "For joy?" He laughed a little
uneasily as he said it. His eyes ran through the document.
"The Honourable Tom Ferrol, of Stavely Castle, County Galway, Ireland,
bachelor, and Christine Marie Lavilette, of the Township of Bonaventure,
in the Province of Lower Canada, spinster, Are hereby granted," etc.,
etc., etc., "according to the laws of the Province of Upper Canada,"
etc., etc., etc.
He put it in his pocket.
"For better or for worse, then," he said, and descended the stairs.
Presently, as he went through the village, he noticed signs of hostility
to himself. Cries of Vive la Canada! Vive la France! a bas l'Anglais!
came to him out of the murmuring and excitement. But t
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