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Little by little we learned much of what had passed, though he evidently withheld the most for the sake of Mademoiselle, and it was some time before he broke the news to her that her mother’s doors were closed against her.

“I think you’ll find it pleasanter a-stoppin’ here,” he said, “if Mis’ Dimar’ll board ye until–the time fur startin’ home. Her sperrit was so up that she said she didn’t aim to see you no more, an’ you know how she is, Esmeraldy, when her sperrit’s up.”

The girl went and clung around his neck, kneeling at his side, and shedding tears.

“Oh, father!” she cried, “you’ve bore a great deal for me; you’ve bore more than any one knows, and all for me.”

He looked rather grave, as he shook his head at the fire.

“That’s so, Esmeraldy,” he replied; “but we ailers seemed nigh to each other, somehow, and when it come to the wust, I was bound to kinder make a stand fur you, as I couldn’t have made fur myself. I couldn’t have done it fur myself. Lord, no!”

So Mademoiselle remained with us, and Clelie assisted her to prepare her simple outfit, and in the evening the tall young lover came into our apartment and sat looking on, which aspect of affairs, I will confess, was entirely new to Clelie, and yet did not displease her.

“Their candor moves me,” she said. “He openly regards her with adoration. At parting she accompanies him to the door, and he embraces her tenderly, and yet one is not repelled. It is the love of the lost Arcadia–serious and innocent.”

Finally, we went with them one morning to the American Chapel in the Rue de Bern, and they were united in our presence and that of Monsieur, who was indescribably affected.

After the completion of the ceremony, he presented Monsieur Wash with a package.

“It’s papers as I’ve had drawd up fur Esmeraldy,” he said. “It’ll start you well out in the world, an’ after me and mother’s gone, there’s no one but you and her to have rest. The Lord–may the Lord bless ye!”

We accompanied them to Havre, and did not leave them until the last moment. Monsieur was strangely excited, and clung to the hands of his daughter and son-in-law, talking fast and nervously, and pouring out messages to be delivered to his distant friends.

“Tell ’em I’d like powerful well to see ’em all, an’ I’d have come only–only things was kinder onconvenient. Sometime, perhaps”–

But here he was obliged to clear his throat, as his voice had become extremely husky. And, having done this, he added in an undertone:–

“You see, Esmeraldy, I couldn’t, because of mother, as I’ve swore not to go back on. Wash, he wouldn’t go back on you, however high your sperrit was, an’ I can’t go back on mother.”

The figures of the young couple standing at the side, Monsieur Wash holding his wife to his breast with one strong arm, were the last we saw as the ship moved slowly away.

“It is obscurity to which they are returning,” I said, half unconsciously.

“It is love,” said Clelie.

The father, who had been standing apart, came back to us, replacing in his pocket his handkerchief.

“They are young an’ likely, you see,” said Monsieur, “an’ life before them, an’ it’s nat’ral as she should have chose Wash, as was young too, an’ sot on her. Lord, it’s nat’ral, an’ I wouldn’t have it no otherways.”