ank made him giddy. It seemed to him that his head weighed a thousand
pounds. This did not last long, however. "Hark!" he said; "the bell has
stopped, I think." They turned back. Jack was terrified, for it was the
first time that he had ever been late at the Works. But Chariot was in
despair. "It is my fault," he reiterated. He declared that he would
see the Director and explain matters, and was altogether so utterly
miserable, that Jack was obliged to console him by saying that it was
of no great consequence, after all; that he could afford to be marked
'absent' for once. "I will go with you to the boat."

The boy was so gratified by what he believed to be the good effect
of his words on Chariot, that he enlarged on the noble nature of Pere
Rondic and of Clarisse.

"O, had you seen her this morning, you would have pitied her. She was so
pale that she looked as if she were dead."

Chariot started.

"And she ate nothing. I am afraid she will be ill. And she never spoke."

"Poor woman!" said Chariot, with a sigh of relief which Jack took for one
of sorrow.

They reached the wharf. The boat was not there. A thick fog covered the
river from one shore to the other.

"Let us go in here," said Chariot It was a little wooden shed, intended
as a shelter for workmen while waiting in bad weather. Clarisse knew
this shed very well, and the old woman who sold brandy and coffee in the
corner had seen Madame Rondic many a time when she crossed the Loire.

"Let us take a drop of brandy to keep out the cold," said Chariot.
At that moment a shrill whistle was heard; it was the boat for Saint
Nazarre. "Good-bye, Jack, and a thousand thanks for your good advice!"

"Don't mention it," said the lad, heartily; "but pray give up gambling."

"Of course I will," answered the other, hurrying on board to hide his
amusement. When Jack was again alone he felt no desire to return to
the Works; he was in a state of unusual excitement. Even the heavy fog
hanging over the Loire interested him. Suddenly he said to himself, "Why
do I not go to Nantes and buy Zenaide's gift to-day?" A few moments saw
him on the way; but as there was no train until noon, he must wait for
some time, and was compelled to pass that time in a room where there
were several of the old employes of the Works, who had been discharged
for various misdemeanors. They received the lad civilly enough, and
listened attentively when he took up some remark that was made, and
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