“Look for me at the church,” she whispered, “at the hour of vespers.” Gabriel’s impulsive heart leaped within him, and in an instant a thousand wild hopes and imaginings were seething in his brain; and the women, being appeased and many of them hurrying homeward to prepare meals to carry to the ships, he was left unmolested. He concluded his task without further difficulty, and returned to the church. The general, relieved from pressing anxiety, was in a mood to satisfy his natural curiosity, and having received his lieutenant’s formal report, began to ply him with questions respecting his personal affairs. Gabriel answered without reserve. “Mark me, sir!” exclaimed Winslow delightedly, “the maiden comes hither this night with the woman. Then will we have some romance in these melancholy times.” And forgetting his dignity, he clapped his subordinate violently on the shoulder. And Gabriel found nothing to say. CHAPTER IX But Winslow was in error. The wife of Marin came alone, and Gabriel’s yearning eyes traveled in vain beyond the sturdy figure of the Acadian peasant woman for the slight one of his cousin. The meeting took place in the general’s private parlor. “Ah, you expected _la petite_!” began Julie volubly, “but that may not be—not yet.” “Where is she, friend Julie?” interrupted the young man impatiently. “How did she escape from the priest? Is she well? Is she happy? Does she think of me? Only tell me.” “But that is much to tell, my brave boy,” laughed Julie. “Listen now to me, who am indeed thy friend. Thou shalt see her, and she shall answer those many questions with her own lips, but on one condition: the marriage must be at once—on the instant. Otherwise, Marin——” she shrugged her shoulders expressively. “It is not well, seest thou, to fall out with a husband. Now, Marin is a prisoner, therefore am I a weak woman left alone to deal with a young man of violence, seest thou? Thou dost seize thy bride, thou dost carry her to thy priest, who am I? But shouldst thou delay, and I bring _la petite_ to visit thee once, twice, many times, Marin, he will say, ‘Thou, _bonne femme_, wast the guardian of this child, and thou didst take her to visit a heretic, allowing her also to neglect the duties she owes thee.’ But once thy wife, _M. le Capitain_, and all is over.” Gabriel listened to this harangue with eyes upon the ground and the red color slowly flushing to his fair face. He continued silent so long that the woman lost patience. “_Mon Dieu!_” she ejaculated under her breath, “is it the English blood that makes him so dull?” At last he spoke hesitatingly: “Good friend, thou sayest, ‘Seest thou?’ I reply, ‘Seest thou not also?’ There has been no talk of marriage betwixt Margot and myself. Truly do I desire it,” his eyes flashed, and he raised his head. “I desire it with all the strength that is in me, but with Margot, the maiden, it may be otherwise.”