CHAPTER XIV _LE-COIN-DU-PRES_ It was a large farm, as farms go in that part of the world, and had been in the family of Guerin for many years. The head of the family in former days had occupied the white chateau on the top of the hill, but that had long since passed away from the present branch of whom there were left only Madame Guerin, her grandson Victor, and another grandson, one Gaspard, the son of Madame Guerin’s eldest child. Gaspard, too, was in the army and was with the troops at the Dardanelles. Annette spoke of this cousin as a _beau gar_. He was still at home when Annette arrived at the farm of _Le-Coin-du-Pres_. “Is he as nice as Victor?” asked Lucie as the two girls were sitting together in the twilight. “He is better looking, I think, and older. He will inherit the farm, of course.” “And Victor?” “Oh, Victor will arrive. He is of good stuff, although in danger of being spoiled by his grandmother who thinks the world of him.” “And which do you like better of these two cousins, Annette?” Annette put her head to one side, and said quite sedately. “One should not say which of two young men one prefers. It should be left to her parents.” Lucie’s lips parted in surprise. “Did you think I meant in that sense? I was thinking of them as your cousins only.” “Not such very, very near cousins; we have not the same grandmother.” “Oh!” Lucie was rather startled. Who had been putting notions in Annette’s head since she saw her last? Then Victor came up. “I have been looking for you two,” he said, seating himself on the bench by Annette’s side and tossing a spray of blossoms into Lucie’s lap. “The first of the season,” he announced. “How do you like _Coin-du-Pres_, Lucie?” “I think it is lovely. I like this rambling old house and the garden. The garden is nothing as yet, I suppose.” “In another month you will begin to see its glory. Paulette and Odette, they are content?” “Paulette doesn’t say much; you know her way, but she remarked to me that at last one could have a place to put things. She has been pottering around the little house, giving Odette all sorts of directions, and planning where they shall put this and what they will have to eat when the time comes, so I really think she is very happy. As for Odette, she is so pleased to be in the country again that nothing else counts. She has been so ordered about and scolded by that old aunt of hers that I suppose Paulette seems like a very angel of disposition, though I should scarcely call her so. It was good of your grandmother to let them have the little house; it will mean home to them.” “That was Victor’s doing,” Annette spoke up. “He suggested it, and had Jules get it in order; that was one of the things he was particular to write about.”