'

He cut short all messages and expressions of gratitude, and leading
Eustacie to a small stream, he made her creep along its course, with her
feet in the water so as to be sheltered by the boughs that hung over the
banks, while he used his ling strides to enable him to double back
and enter into conversation with passers-by, quite of the track of the
Grange du Temple, but always telling her where he should join her again,
and leaving with her the great dog, whom she had come to regard as a
friend and protector. Leaving the brook, he conducted her beneath hedges
and by lonely woodland paths beyond the confines of her own property,
to a secluded valley, so shut in by wooded hills that she had not been
aware of its existence. Through an extensive orchard, she at length,
when nearly spent with the walk, beheld the cluster of stone buildings,
substantial as the erections of religious orders were wont to be.

Martin found a seat for her, where she might wait while he went on alone
to the house, and presently returned with both the good people of the
farm. They were more offhand and less deferential than were her own
people, but were full of kindliness. They were middle-aged folk, most
neatly clad, and with a grave, thoughtful look about them, as if
life were a much heavier charge to them than to their light-hearted
neighbours.

'A fair day to you, Madame,' said the farmer, doffing his wide-flapped
hat. 'I am glad to serve a sufferer for the truth's sake.'

'My husband was,' faltered Eustacie.

'AH! _la pauvre_,' cried the good woman, pressing forward as she saw how
faint, heated, and exhausted was the wanderer. 'Come in, _ma pauvrette_.
Only a bride at the Bartholomew! Alas! There, lean on me, my dear.'

To be _tutoyee_ by the Fermiere Rotrou was a shock; yet the kind manner
was comfortable, and Eustacie suffered herself to be led into
the farm-house, where, as the dame observed, she need not fear
chance-comers, for they lived much to themselves, and no one would be
about till their boy Robinet came in with the cows. She might rest and
eat there in security, and after that they would find a hiding-place for
her--safe as the horns of the altar--for a night or two; only for two
nights at most.

'Nor do I ask more,' said Eustacie. 'Then Martin will come for me.'

'Ah, I or Blaise, or whichever of us can do it with least suspicion.'

'She shall meet you here,' added Rotrou.

'All right, good man; I understand; it is