ble for
Pauline's safety, reported her as resting comfortably in the barn.

Ringfield did not say much; of Crabbe no mention was made by the
others, and it was probable that nobody had seen him, or dreamt of his
being out in the neighbourhood on such a day.

CHAPTER XVI

IN THE BARN

"Poor now in tranquil pleasure, he gave way
To thoughts of troubled pleasure."

Pauline had yielded to an erratic but harmless impulse in driving off
recklessly with the priest; her nature, so long restrained by residence
in a dull, circumscribed village instead of a lively town, needed some
such prank to reanimate and amuse it. She seized the reins
dramatically, insisted upon driving, and Father Rielle was nothing
loath since he did not care about nor understand horses very well, and
since it was dangerously novel and bitterly pleasant to sit and watch
Miss Clairville. Her fine features and splendid colouring showed well
against the dull background of sky and forest; the ribbon on which her
muff was slung, tied moreover in a dashing bow, was a bit of true
scarlet matching some rosettes in her hat. As she looked behind for a
wilful instant she caught sight of Ringfield sitting up stiffly on the
two fat laps provided by Amable Poussette and the doctor, and her laugh
rang musically in the priest's ear.

"Poussette's is the fastest horse in the village!" cried she. "See--I
will give him a little of the whip. _Voila_--now he will think he has
his master behind him. _March-ch, donc, animal_. Get up--bigosh,
_excusez, mon pere_. That's it! Watch him now! I'm not an actress
for nothing. See now--he'll be galloping presently, but trotting is
all we care for, my good beast! So you are going to bring Mme.
Poussette back with you, I understand,--tear the fair lady from my poor
brother!"

"Who has told you that _canard_?" said the priest, folding his arms and
leaning back as far as the little _caleche_ would allow. "No, I did
not think of doing so to-day; you doubtless heard me talking of the
matter to Dr. Renaud. I cannot tell what you think of it, but in the
absence of all servants it seems to me that Poussette's wife should
return to her home while you both make new arrangements for managing
his house. But perhaps you intend remaining there to-night,
mademoiselle?"

"I have no such intention, _mon pere_, I assure you. I am glad Henry
has recovered; I shall see him once or twice, of course, and then I
shall ret