"And I thought to make you happy," he sighed, too.
"How could you think to make me happy by taking me again to a place which was my parents', and might have been mine, but which was sold yesterday to some stranger whose name even I do not know."
"Only a couple of steps farther; that is all I ask of you."
They turned the corner of the wall, and had the farm entrance before them.
All the farm-hands, carters, cow-men, dairy-maids, plowmen, were there, with Father Clovis marshaling them, a bunch of flowers in his hand.
"I understand; you wanted me to be welcomed once more in the old home by those who, like me, will leave it forever. I thank you, dear."
Leaving her husband's arm and Isidore's hand, she ran forward to meet the people, who surrounded her and bore her into the house.
Pitou led Isidore, who was still carrying the papers, into the door-way, and they saw Catherine seated in the main room, staring about her as in a dream.
"In Heaven's name, tell me what they are saying!" she cried. "I do not understand a bit of what they are saying."
"Perhaps these papers which the child has for you will make it all clear, dear Catherine," replied the husband.