“Of course not. How can I tell? I wish you would not bring up such subjects, Annette.” Then Annette understood the dread which possessed her aunt, and the effort she was making to be calm and brave. Annette drew closer to Lucie. “Dear Lucie, dear Lucie,” she murmured, “you are all tired out. Come, let us go to bed. Grandfather is upstairs, and grandmother went long ago.” So they went upstairs together, leaving Madame Guerin alone with her fears and the little stained book. CHAPTER XV GASPARD It was after Madame Guerin and Jean had gone that Gaspard arrived. A tall, bronzed young man he was, graver than Victor, very gentle, very quiet. Lucie found him polite, but it was very evident that he preferred Annette to her. The two spent much time together and Lucie felt rather lonely. Without Madame Guerin’s brisk presence the house appeared very still. Upon leaving, madame had asked Paulette to have an eye to matters domestic, not trusting entirely to the judgment of the two young maids. The first report of Victor informed them that he was hanging between life and death, barely holding his own, yet this much was more than had been anticipated and every one was more hopeful. Pom Pom, too, had come through his ordeal satisfactorily, and while the doctor could not, yet, give much encouragement he did not discourage. For some reason Odette placed the two in the same balance. “If one recovers the other will,” she declared to Lucie. “Why do you say that?” Lucie asked. “How do you know, Odette?” “I do not know it; I only feel it. Something tells me so.” “I wish the something would tell you that they are sure to get well,” responded Lucie. Since coming to the country and spending so much time out-of-doors Odette had grown taller and stronger. She was naturally pale but plentiful food had given her a healthier look, and the haunting look of despair was gradually leaving her eyes. She was industrious to the last degree, and was popular with those working both indoors and out. Paulette was devoted to her, and once had said to Lucie: “She is such a child as I should wish my little Rose Marie to have been if she had lived, my Rose Marie who died when she was but three years old.” And Lucie considered that the greatest compliment that Odette could have received. The little peasant, however, showed her pride by never seeking Lucie, but was always delighted if Lucie sought her, as she did on those days when Gaspard seemed to monopolize Annette. The latter now was seldom ready to study in the morning. She would sit with her sewing in the living-room, Madame Le Brun a watchful chaperon, while Gaspard told of his experiences in the war.