Et desormais faut renoncer a moi.'"

A few more friends of the family dropped in--Coulon de Villiers, Claude
Beauharnais, La Corne St. Luc, and others, who had heard of the lady's
departure and came to bid her adieu.

La Corne raised much mirth by his allusions to the Iroquois. The secret
was plainly no secret to him. "I hope to get their scalps," said he,
"when you have done with them and they with you, Le Gardeur!"

The evening passed on pleasantly, and the clock of the Recollets pealed
out a good late hour before they took final leave of their hospitable
hostess, with mutual good wishes and adieus, which with some of them
were never repeated. Le Gardeur was no little touched and comforted by
so much sympathy and kindness. He shook the Bourgeois affectionately
by the hand, inviting him to come up to Tilly. It was noticed and
remembered that this evening Le Gardeur clung filially, as it were, to
the father of Pierre, and the farewell he gave him was tender, almost
solemn, in a sort of sadness that left an impress upon all minds. "Tell
Pierre--but indeed, he knows we start early," said Le Gardeur, "and the
canoes will be waiting on the Batture an hour after sunrise.

The Bourgeois knew in a general way the position of Le Gardeur, and
sympathized deeply with him. "Keep your heart up, my boy!" said he
on leaving. "Remember the proverb,--never forget it for a moment, Le
Gardeur: Ce que Dieu garde est bien garde!"

"Good-by, Sieur Philibert!" replied he, still holding him by the hand.
"I would fain be permitted to regard you as a father, since Pierre is
all of a brother to me!"

"I will be a father, and a loving one too, if you will permit me, Le
Gardeur," said the Bourgeois, touched by the appeal. "When you return
to the city, come home with Pierre. At the Golden Dog, as well as at
Belmont, there will be ever welcome for Pierre's friend as for Pierre's
self."

The guests then took their departure.

The preparations for the journey home were all made, and the household
retired to rest, all glad to return to Tilly. Even Felix Baudoin felt
like a boy going back on a holiday. His mind was surcharged with the
endless things he had gathered up, ready to pour into the sympathizing
ear of Barbara Sanschagrin; and the servants and censitaires were
equally eager to return to relate their adventures in the capital when
summoned on the King's corvee to build the walls of Quebec.

CHAPTER XXVI. THE CANADIAN BOAT-SON