ghness, where he was left many
hours before he could be released."

Gabrielle changed color. "Never mind," said she, in a low voice, and
pressing her father's hand. "What man has done man may do, though I am
but a woman who say it."

"That's my brave girl!" fondly kissing her. "Well, my friends, if we
can but get to Bordeaux, we shall escape; that is provided for. It was
this which kept me from you so long. And what a return has been mine!
I got no answers from you to my letters; I heard the persecution here
was raging with fury; I came to snatch you from it, and found my home
deserted, the factory burnt, the workmen scattered, no tidings of you
to be found. At length I got news of you from one of the men, who told
me of your retreat, and that he, under cover of night, brought you
bread. We planned how to remove you hence to-night, but it must be in
detachments. At a place agreed on there will be a small cart that will
convey the children and perhaps their mother."

"I prefer walking," interposed my mother. "Jacques is unable to do so."

"Impossible! I am sure you have not the strength for it," said we all.

"Never fear," said she, stoutly.

"No, no; it must not be," said I.

"And you, my son?"

"I will undertake for him," said La Croissette, who, it now appeared,
had been listening behind the doorway all this time.

"Who are you, my man?" said M. Bourdinave, in surprise and some
distrust.

"An honest fellow, though I say it that shouldn't," was his answer.
"I am one of those who deal in deeds more than words. I cannot patter
Ave Marias with a Catholic, nor sing interminable psalms like a
Huguenot, but neither can I endure the ways the Catholics are taking to
compel the Huguenots to submission. I take my own way, d'ye see, and am
fettered by nobody. No one would molest La Croissette the needle-seller,
not even a dragoon. And I have learnt to esteem you all; I admire the
young ladies, and respect the old lady and gentleman. Therefore, there's
my hand; you may take it or not. 'Tis not over soft; but there's no
blood on it, and it never took a bribe. Let those say so who can.
And what I say next is this: Dr. Jameray has fallen sick, and I've
undertaken to drive his little wagon, with the sign of the bleeding
tooth, from hence to Montauban. As far as that I'll give my young friend
here a cast, and he may thence easily take boat down the Garonne to
Bordeaux. At least, if he cannot of himself, I'll manage it for h