be seriously inconvenienced by his cramped quarters
in the loft, where prudence compelled him to remain; and it was with
transports of joy that he welcomed the idea of taking up his abode at
the Borderie with Marie-Anne.

When the day of departure had been decided upon, he counted the minutes
as impatiently as a school-boy pining for vacation.

"I am suffocating here," he said to his wife. "I am suffocating. Time
drags so slowly. When will the happy day come?"

It came at last. During the morning all the articles which they
had succeeded in procuring during their stay at the farm-house were
collected and packed; and when night came, Poignot's son began the
moving.

"Everything is at the Borderie," said the honest fellow, on returning
from his last trip, "and Mademoiselle Lacheneur bids the baron bring a
good appetite."

"I shall have one, never fear!" responded the baron, gayly. "We shall
all have one."

Father Poignot himself was busily engaged in harnessing his best horse
to the cart which was to convey M. d'Escorval to his new home.

The worthy man's heart grew sad at the thought of the departure of these
guests, for whose sake he had incurred such danger. He felt that he
should miss them, that the house would seem gloomy and deserted after
they left it.

He would allow no one else to perform the task of arranging the mattress
comfortably in the cart. When this had been done to his satisfaction, he
heaved a deep sigh, and exclaimed:

"It is time to start!"

Slowly he ascended the narrow staircase leading to the loft.

M. d'Escorval had not thought of the moment of parting.

At the sight of the honest farmer, who came toward him, his face
crimsoned with emotion to bid him farewell, he forgot all the comforts
that awaited him at the Borderie, in the remembrance of the loyal and
courageous hospitality he had received in the house he was about to
leave. The tears sprang to his eyes.

"You have rendered me a service which nothing can repay, Father
Poignot," he said, with intense feeling. "You have saved my life."

"Oh! we will not talk of that, Baron. In my place, you would have done
the same--neither more nor less."

"I shall not attempt to express my thanks, but I hope to live long
enough to prove that I am not ungrateful."

The staircase was so narrow that they had considerable difficulty in
carrying the baron down; but finally they had him comfortably extended
upon his mattress and threw over him