it at bay.

I demanded the wherefore of this reception; I demanded rooms and food
and reparation. What, was I the monsieur who had telegraphed from the
Hospice? But madame had answered that she had not a room in the house.
The carriage of a large party of very high nobility had broken down
late in the afternoon, and they were remaining for the night, until
the damage could be repaired. What to do? But there was nothing,
unless _les messieurs_ would sleep, one on the sofa, the other on the
floor, in the room of the "dejeuner."

"I suppose we'll have to put up with that accommodation, then. What do
you say, Boy?" I asked.

"I would rather go on," he replied, in a tone of misery tempered by
desperate resignation, as if he had been giving orders for his own
funeral.

"Go on where?" I enquired grimly.

"I don't know. Anywhere."

"'Anywhere' means in this instance the open road."

"Well--I'm not so _very_ cold, are you? And I'm sure they'll give us a
little bread and cheese here."

"I think it would be wiser to stop," said I. "We might see the ghost
of Napoleon eating the _dejeuner_. Isn't that an inducement?"

"Not enough."

"I assure you that I don't snore or howl in my sleep. And you could
have the sofa to curl up on."

"Ye-es; but I'd rather go on. You and Joseph can stop. Innocentina and
I will be all right."

I was annoyed with the child. I felt that he fully deserved to be
taken at his word, and deserted on the Pass, but I had not the heart
to punish him. If anything should happen to the poor Babe in the Wood,
I should never forgive myself; and besides, it would have been
hopeless to seek sleep, with visions of disaster to this strange
Little Pal of mine painting my brain red.

"Of course I won't do anything of the kind," I said crossly. "If one
party goes on, both will go on." I then snappishly ordered food of
some sort, any sort--except chocolate,--and having, after a blank
interval, obtained enough bread, cheese, and ham for at least ten
persons, I divided the rations with Joseph and Innocentina, who had
now come up.

We had a short halt for rest and refreshment, taken simultaneously,
and presently set out again, with a vague idea of plodding on as far
as Orsieres. The Boy refused so obstinately to ride his donkey (I
believe because I must go on foot), that Innocentina, thwarted, did
frightful execution among her favourite saints. Joseph reproved her;
she retorted by calling him a black heretic,