?"

"In our cabin at Montmorenci. Pauline Belmont desired to keep her in
Quebec during the siege, but to this I would not consent, because I
could not see her as often as I wished."

"Let me have the child, Batoche. I will replace her godmother as well as
I can."

"I thank you from the bottom of my heart, mademoiselle, but that is not
precisely what I meant. I could not part from her for good, neither
would she leave me. All I ask is this. I may be absent from my hut for
days at a time. You know what military service is."

"Military service?"

"Yes, mademoiselle, I am a soldier once more."

"You mean...?"

"I am enrolled among the Bastonnais."

"Bravo!" exclaimed Zulma. "Whenever you have to absent yourself from
home fetch Blanche to me."

How little either Zulma or Batoche suspected what strange events would
result from this incident.

VI.

THE BALL AT THE CASTLE.

On the evening of that same day, the 1st December, there was high
festival within the walls of Quebec. A great ball was given at the
Castle to celebrate the arrival of Governor Carleton. There was a
twofold sentiment in the minds of all guests which enhanced the pleasure
of the entertainment--gratification at the Governor's providential
escape from all the perils of his voyage from Montreal to Quebec, and
the assurance that his presence would procure a gallant and successful
defence of the town against the besiegers. The attendance was both large
and brilliant. Never had the old Chateau beheld a gayer scene. The
French families vied with the English in doing honour to the occasion.
Patriotism seemed to revive in the breasts of the most lukewarm, and
many, whose standing had hitherto been dubious, came forward in the
courtliest fashion to proclaim their loyalty to King George in the
person of his representative.

But M. Belmont was not one of these. When he first heard of the
preparations for the ball, he grew very serious.

"It is a snare," he said, "set to entrap us."

A day or two later, when he received a formal invitation, he was so
truly distressed that he fell into a fever.

"Happy malady," he muttered, "I shall now have a valid excuse."

Pauline nursed him with her usual tenderness, but could not extract from
him the cause of his illness. She had heard, of course, of the great
event which was the talk of the whole town, but never suspected that her
father had been invited, and it was, therefore, with no misgiving that
s