fright and scorn,
with which he had been received in the other houses of Remilly. Every
man owes allegiance to his country, doesn't he? It is quite clear he
should serve his country as well as he knows how. In France, however,
no one looked at the matter in that light; there were things about which
people had very queer notions. And as the old man listened and looked
at that broad, innocent, good-natured face, beaming with frankness and
good-will, he said to himself that surely that excellent fellow had had
no evil designs in coming there.

"So you are all alone to-day, Father Fouchard?"

"Oh, no; Silvine is out at the barn, feeding the cows. Would you like to
see her?"

Goliah laughed. "Well, yes. To be quite frank with you, it was on
Silvine's account that I came."

Old Fouchard felt as if a great load had been taken off his mind; he
went to the door and shouted at the top of his voice:

"Silvine! Silvine! There's someone here to see you."

And he went away about his business without further apprehension, since
the lass was there to look out for the property. A man must be in a bad
way, he reflected, to let a fancy for a girl keep such a hold on him
after such a length of time, years and years.

When Silvine entered the room she was not surprised to find herself in
presence of Goliah, who remained seated and contemplated her with his
broad smile, in which, however, there was a trace of embarrassment. She
had been expecting him, and stood stock-still immediately she stepped
across the doorsill, nerving herself and bracing all her faculties.
Little Charlot came running up and hid among her petticoats, astonished
and frightened to see a strange man there. Then succeeded a few seconds
of awkward silence.

"And this is the little one, then?" Goliah asked at last in his most
dulcet tone.

"Yes," was Silvine's curt, stern answer.

Silence again settled down upon the room. He had known there was a
child, although he had gone away before the birth of his offspring, but
this was the first time he had laid eyes on it. He therefore wished to
explain matters, like a young man of sense who is confident he can give
good reasons for his conduct.

"Come, Silvine, I know you cherish bitter feelings against me--and yet
there is no reason why you should. If I went away, if I have been cause
to you of so much suffering, you might have told yourself that perhaps
it was because I was not my own master. When a man has masters o