Marie and I were not the only happy ones then, I can assure you. Victoire, my brother. Father Hermann, the whole village in fact, for we were both very popular, rejoiced with us. It was the week before the marriage. Of course I had not gone to sea. Victoire was also very anxious to remain; however, his wife persuaded him to go. Several in the village found fault with her for doing so, on the pretext that working at a festal time was very bad luck; but they had no right to say so. Victoire's children were very young, and had to be provided for; and so Victoire went. In the evening great black clouds darkened the sky. We were evidently threatened with a dreadful storm. But we were enjoying ourselves too much to think of storms or friends at sea. All at once there was a vivid flash of lightning and then a peal of thunder, which seemed to shake every cottage to its foundation. And then came piercing cries: "A boat in distress, and threatened with instant destruction!" It was Victoire's boat! I was on the shore in an instant What an awful storm! Never in my whole life had I seen its equal. All that was in a man's power I did, you may be quite sure. Three times I dashed madly into the waves, only to be thrown back by the fury of the sea. The last time I was all but lost myself. However, I was rescued and brought back to the shore, bruised and insensible. Some thought me dead. Would that I had been, and had out side by side with that other body stretched lifeless on the rocks! It was Victoire! When I came to myself he was near me, quite still, and covered with blood; but with just enough breath left to whisper in my ear: "Pierre, my boy, be a brother to my wife, a father to my children. God bless you, boy." "Victoire," answered I, "I swear it." And then he died without a murmur. CHAPTER IV. Of course you will guess, monsieur, that this awful affair was the means of putting off our marriage. Marie and I neither of us complained, but consoled ourselves with the reflection that all would soon be well. I took up my position in my brother's house, and warmly kissed my brother's children, now mine. Alphonsine tried to show her gratitude as well as she could. And so six months slipped away, and the villagers began talking again about our marriage. I don't know how it was, but I began to feel very nervous and uneasy about the matter, and I did not so much as dare broach the subject either to Alphonsine or Marie's mother. In a little time the latter began the subject herself. "Pierre," said she, "you have adopted your brother's children, have you not?" "Yes, mother." "And his wife also?" "Yes; I must take care of his wife quite as much as her children." "You have quite made up your mind?" "Perfectly." "Am I to understand that you never mean to leave them?" "I swore I would not to my brother before he died." Then there was a silence, and my heart beat very quick.