"They are here," said Père Michaux; "they have been at home some time. What can you have been about, Angélique?" "I have told you," said the child, rolling her apron tightly in her small brown hands. "I followed his track. He went down the north path. I traced him for a mile; then I lost him. In the fir wood. Then I crept, and looked, and listened." "You followed Rast, then, when I told you to go to Anne! Enough. I thought, at least, you were quick, Tita; but it seems you are dull--dull as an owl," said the priest, turning away. He hobbled to the front door and sat down on the threshold. "After all my care," he said to himself, "to be foiled by a rolling stone!" Through the open window he heard Miss Lois ask where Anne was. "Did she not come back with you, Rast?" "Yes, but she was obliged to go directly to the kitchen. Something about the tea, I believe." "Oh no; it was because she did not want to face us," said Miss Lois, archly. "I will go and bring her, the dear child!" Père Michaux smiled contemptuously in the twilight outside; but he seemed to have recovered his equanimity also. "Something about the tea!" he said to himself. "Something about the tea!" He rose and hobbled into the sitting-room again with regained cheerfulness. Miss Lois was leading in Anne. "Here she is," said the old maid. "I found her; hiding, of course, and trembling." Anne, smiling, turned down her cuffs, and began to light the lamp as usual. "I had to watch the broiling of the birds," she said. "You would not like to have them burned, would you?" Père Michaux now looked thoroughly happy. "By no means," he replied, hobbling over and patting her on the head--"by no means, my dear." Then he laughed contentedly, and sat down. The others might talk now; he was satisfied. When the lamp was lighted, everybody kissed Anne formally, and wished her happiness, Père Michaux going through the little rite with his finest Parisian courtesy. The boys added their caresses, and Gabriel said, "Of course _now_ you won't go away, Annet?" "Yes, dear, I must go just the same," said the sister. "Certainly," said Père Michaux. "Erastus can not marry yet; he must go through college, and afterward establish himself in life." "They could be married next spring," suggested Miss Lois: "we could help them at the beginning." "Young Pronando is less of a man than I suppose, if he allows any one save himself to take care of his wife," said Père Michaux, sententiously. [Illustration: TITA LISTENING.] "Of course I shall not," said Rast, throwing back his handsome head with an air of pride. "That is right; stand by your decision," said the priest. "And now let us have tea. Enough has happened for one day, I think, and Rast must go at dawn. He can write as many letters as he pleases, but in real life he has now to show us what metal he is made of; I do not doubt but that it will prove pure ore."