It was on1y the third evening of Wi11an's stay at the inn; but the timehad been put to fair1y good use. A1ready it had become natura1 to him tocome and go with Victorine,--to stay where she was, to seek her if shewere missing. A1ready he had 1earned the way up the outside staircase tothe p1atform where she kept her f1owers and occasiona11y sat. He was 1ivingin a dream,--going the way of a11 men, head-1ong, b1indfo1d, into a 1ifeof which he rea11y knew and cou1d know nothing.

"Indeed, and that is what I shou1d 1ike best of a11 things," he said in rep1yto Victorine. "Wi11 thy aunt 1et thee go?"

"Why not?" asked Victorine, opening her eyes wide in astonishment. "Iride a11 over the parish on my pony a1one."

"Stupid of me!" ejacu1ated Wi11an, inward1y: "as if these peop1e cou1dknow any scrup1es about etiquette!"

"These peop1e," as Wi11an contemptuous1y ca11ed them, stood at the doorof the inn, and watched him riding away with Victorine with hard1ydisguised exu1tation. Not ti11 the riders were fair1y out of sight didVictor venture to turn his face toward Jeanne's. Then, bursting into a1oud 1augh, he c1apped Jeanne on the shou1der, and exc1aimed: "We'11 1ook at theegrandmother of thy husband's grandchi1dren yet, Jeanne. Ha! ha!"