Soon they had seen all that there was to see, and when the sister, looking at the clock, regretted that she must leave them to visit a sick woman, both girls asked if they might not walk with her. "With pleasure," she replied. "Indeed, I would take you to the house where I am going, were it not that this woman is too sick to see visitors." "We should like to see another Acadian house," said Amy; "we have visited only that of Alexandre Babet, and that was so plain." "Ah, you have been at Alexandre Babet's. Then you have seen the little Yvonne. Is she not charming?" "Yes, charming and talented. We have heard her sing." "Yvonne sings sweetly. We have taught her some music here, but nature has done the most for her, and she is so patient about her eyes." "Do you think that she will be blind?" asked Amy, anxiously. "Oh, no, not wholly blind, though it is largely a question of doctors. This came to her through an illness a few years ago. She did not have the right care. They did not understand. But there is always hope, and I think that she is no worse this year or two." "We have a friend who has taken a great fancy to Yvonne. She preferred to go up to Alexandre Babet's this morning rather than to come sightseeing with us." "Yvonne wins the heart of all so quickly, and her good father and mother, though adopted, would do everything for her if they could. Poor Alexandre looks for a gold-mine." "Yes, we know," and Amy smiled; "but I am glad to know that there is hope for Yvonne's eyes." "Ah, yes, there is hope. Poor child! She has had a strange history." At that moment two small girls crossed their path. They looked like little old women, with their shawls and _couvre-chefs_. The sister laid her hand on the shoulder of one of them. "Where are you going?" The girls hung their heads shamefaced, and would not meet the sister's gaze. "Ah, you know; go home and get your hats." The children ran off without looking back, and the sister turned with a smile to Amy and Priscilla. "You see they are foolish. When they are at school I tell them they must wear hats every day; but in holidays they will put on _couvre-chefs_. It is an old fashion that I think not good. When they are married--ah! it is too bad--at once they put on the _couvre-chef_, the very girls that I took such trouble with. It takes long to get the Acadians away from the old fashions. But they are good people." "We should like to see more of them," said Amy. "We should like to see another Acadian house. That of Alexandre Babet did not seem typical." "Then I should be glad to take you to see one. Why, here we are, just opposite the house of Madame Doucet, who speaks some English, and with her daughter you would see two excellent Acadians. Would you care to call there? I will introduce you, though I must go on farther."