"Yes, father dear; but I doubt the quarter-master will be of your opinion. Because, this not only will get Dr. Gilbert into trouble, but you, too."
"Pooh, you are always scarey," sneered the farmer. "This does not hinder me having the book, and—we have got something for you to do, Pitou—you shall read me this in the evenings."
"But in the daytime?"
"Tend the sheep and cows. Let us have a squint at the book."
He took out one of those sewn pamphlets in a red cover, issued in great quantity in those days, with or without permission of the authorities. In the latter case the author ran great risk of being sent to prison.
"Read us the title, Pitou, till we have a peep at the book inside. The rest afterwards."
The boy read on the first page these words, which usage has made vague and meaningless lately but at that epoch they had a deep effect on all hearts:
"On the Independence of Man and the Freedom of Nations."
"What do you say to that, my lad?" cried the farmer.
"Why, it seems to me that Independence and Freedom are much of a muchness? my guardian would be whipped out of the class by Father Fortier for being guilty of a pleonasm.