, Marie.
I can float beautifully when the tide is serene."

"I would not dare it for a hundred golden louis d'or," interposed
Delisse.

"But Jeanne dares everything. Do you remember when she climbed the
palisade? When one has a lover--" and Marie sighed a little.

"One comes to her senses and is no longer a child," said Madame Ganeau
with a touch of sharpness in her voice. "The saints alone know what will
become of that wild thing. Marie, since your mother is so busy with her
household, some one should look you up a lover. Thou art most fourteen
if I remember rightly."

"Yes, Madame."

"Well, there is time to be sure. Delisse will be fifteen on her wedding
day. That is plenty old enough. For you see the girl bows to her
husband, which is as it should be. A girl well brought up should have no
temper nor ways of her own and then she more easily drops into those of
her husband, who is the head of the house."

"I have a temper!" laughed Jeanne. "And I do not want any husband to
rule over me as if I were a squaw."

"He will rule thee in the end. And if thou triest him too far he may
beat thee."

"If he struck me I should--I should kill him," and Jeanne's eyes flashed
fire.

"Thou wilt have more sense, then. And if lovers are shy of thee thou
wilt begin to long for them when thou art like a dried up autumn rose on
its stem."

Jeanne bridled and flung up her chin.

Pierre took her soft hand in his rough one.

"Do not mind," he said in a whisper; "I would never beat you even if you
did not have dinner ready. And I will bring you lovely furs and whatever
you want. My father is willing to send me up in the fur country next
year."

Jeanne laughed, then turned to sudden gravity and gave back the pressure
of the hand in repentance.

"You are so good to me, Pierre. But I do not want to marry in a long,
long time, until I get tired of other things. And I want plenty of them
and fun and liberty."

"Yes, yes, you are full of fun," approvingly.

Louis was coming up to them in a fine canoe and some Indian rowers. He
waved his hand.

"Good luck, you see! Step in. Now for a glorious sail. Is it up or
down?"

"Down," cried Jeanne hopping around on one foot, and still hanging to
Pani.

They were soon settled within. The river was like a stream of golden
fire, each ripple with a kind of phosphorescent gleam as the foam
slipped away. For the oars were beating it up in every direction. The
air was tensely clear. Ther