sorrowful questions and doubts.

I sent Minima back to the village before the morning-heat grew strong,
and then I was alone, watching the cottage through the fine haze of heat
which hung tremulously about it. The song of every bird was hushed; the
shouts of the harvest-men to their oxen ceased; and the only sound that
stirred the still air was the monotonous striking of the clock in the
church-tower. I had not seen Monsieur Laurentie since his first greeting
of me in the early morning. A panic fear seized upon me. Suppose he
should have been stricken suddenly by this deadly malady! I called
softly at first, then loudly, but no answer came to comfort me. If this
old man, worn out and exhausted, had actually given his life for
Richard's, what would become of me? what would become of all of us?

Step by step, pausing often, yet urged on by my growing fears, I stole
down the parched and beaten track toward the house, then called once
more to the oppressive silence.

Here in the open sunshine, with the hot walls of the mill casting its
rays back again, the heat was intense, though the white cap I wore
protected my head from it. My eyes were dazzled, and I felt ready to
faint. No wonder if Monsieur Laurentie should have sunk under it, and
the long strain upon his energies, which would have overtaxed a younger
and stronger man. I had passed the invisible line which his will had
drawn about the place, and had half crossed the court, when I heard
footsteps close behind me, and a large, brown, rough hand suddenly
caught mine.

"Mam'zelle'" cried a voice I knew well, "is this you!"

"O Tardif! Tardif!" I exclaimed. I rested my beating head against him,
and sobbed violently, while he surrounded me with his strong arm, and
laid his hand upon my head, as if to assure me of his help and
protection.

"Hush; hush! mam'zelle," he said; "it is Tardif, your friend, my little
mam'zelle; your servant, you know. I am here. What shall I do for you?
Is there any person in yonder house who frightens you, my poor little
mam'zelle? Tell me what I can do?"

He had drawn me back into the green shade of the trees, and set me down
upon the felled tree where I had been sitting before. I told him all
quickly, briefly--all that had happened since I had written to him. I
saw the tears start to his eyes.

"Thank God I am here!" he said; "I lost no time, mam'zelle, after your
letter reached me. I will save Monsieur le Cure; I will save them both,