answered, in a
little confusion.

A half-hour later, he said much the same sort of thing to Sophie, with
the same look in his eyes, and only the general purpose, in either case,
of being on easy terms with them.

CHAPTER IV

The day of the wedding there was a gay procession through the parish of
the friends and constituents of Magon Farcinelle. When they came to his
home he joined them, and marched at the head of the procession as had
done many a forefather of his, with ribbons on his hat and others at his
button-hole. After stopping for exchange of courtesies at several houses
in the parish, the procession came to the homestead of the Lavilettes,
and the crowd were now enough excited to forget the pride which had
repelled and offended them for many years.

Monsieur Lavilette made a polite speech, sending round cider and "white
wine" (as native whiskey was called) when he had finished. Later,
Nicolas furnished some good brandy, and Farcinelle sent more. A good
number of people had come out of curiosity to see what manner of man
the Englishman was, well prepared to resent his overbearing
snobbishness--they were inclined to believe every Englishman snobbish.
But Ferrol was so entirely affable, and he drank so freely with everyone
that came to say "A votre sante, M'sieu' le Baron," and kept such a
steady head in spite of all those quantities of white wine, brandy and
cider, that they were almost ready to carry him on their shoulders;
though, with their racial prejudice, they would probably have repented
of that indiscretion on the morrow.

Presently, dancing began in a paddock just across the road from
the house; and when Madame Lavilette saw that Mr. Ferrol gave such
undisguised countenance to the primitive rejoicings, she encouraged
the revellers and enlarged her hospitality, sending down hampers of
eatables. She preened with pleasure when she saw Ferrol walking up and
down in very confidential conversation with Christine. If she had been
really observant she would have seen that Ferrol's tendency was towards
an appearance of confidential friendliness with almost everybody.
Great ideas had entered Madame's head, but they were vaguely defining
themselves in Christine's mind also. Where might not this friendship
with Ferrol lead her?

Something occurred in the midst of the dancing which gave a new turn to
affairs. In one of the pauses a song came monotonously lilting down
the street; yet it was not a song, it