"Say, Francois, do you recollect last year, the Fete-Dieu, when we saw from here all the little communicants, in their white veils, pass over the bridge?" "What handsome flowers they had!" "How they sung, and held the ribbons of their banners!" "And how the silver fringes of the banners glistened in the sun! That must have cost a deal of money!" "Goodness--how handsome it was, Francois!" "I believe you, and the communicants with their badges of white satin on the arm, and wax candles with velvet and gold handles." "The little boys had banners also, had they not, Francois?" "Oh! was I not whipped that day because I asked mother why we did not walk in the procession, like other children!" "Then it was that she told us never to enter a church, unless it was to steal the money-box for the poor, 'or from the pockets of people listening to mass,' added Calabash, laughing and showing her old, yellow teeth." "Bad creature, she is!" "Oh, before I would steal in a church, they should kill me! Don't you say so, Francois?" "There, or elsewhere--what is the difference when one has decided?" "I do not know, but I should have more fear; I never could." "On account of the priests?" "No, perhaps on account of the picture of the Holy Virgin, who looks so good and kind." "What of that?--the picture can't eat you, little fool!" "True; but I could not; it is not my fault." "Speaking of priests, Amandine, do you remember the day when Nicholas struck me so hard, because he saw me bow to the cure who was passing on the shore? I had seen him saluted--I did the same; I did not think there was any harm." "Yes; but that time Martial said just the same as Nicholas--that we had no need to make a salute to a priest." At this moment Francois and Amandine heard some one walk in the corridor. Martial reached his chamber without any further trouble, after his conversation with the widow, believing Nicholas locked up until the next morning. Seeing a ray of light issuing from the door of the children's room, he went in. They both ran to him and embraced him tenderly. "Not yet gone to bed, little chatterers?" "No, brother; we waited for you to come and say good-night," said Amandine. "And, besides, some one was talking very loud downstairs, as if it was a quarrel," added Francois. "Yes," said Martial, "I had a dispute with Nicholas, but it is nothing. I am glad to find you up; I have some good news to tell you." "Us, brother?" "Would you like to go with me away from here--far away?" "Oh yes, brother!" "Well, in two or three days all three of us leave the island." "How glad I am!" cried Amandine, clapping her hands. "But where shall we go to?" asked Francois. "You shall see, inquisitive; but never mind, wherever we go, you shall learn a good trade, which will make you able to earn your living, that is sure." "Shall I not go any more fishing with you, brother?"