"I'll tell you what's going on, Mademoiselle Bertha," replied the Vendéan.
"No, no!" exclaimed Mary; "I entreat you not, Jean. Hold your tongue; oh, do be silent!"
"You scare me with such preambles," cried Bertha; "and Jean is looking at me with an inquisitorial air as if I had committed some great crime. Come, speak out, Jean; I am fully disposed to be kind and indulgent on this happy day, when all my most ardent dreams are realized, and I can share with men their noblest privilege of war!"
"Be frank, Demoiselle Bertha," said the Vendéan; "is that the true reason why you are so joyful?"
"Ha! now I see what the matter is," said Bertha, boldly facing the question. "Major-General Oullier wants to scold me for trenching on his functions." Turning to her sister, she added, "I'll bet, Mary, that it is all about my poor Michel."
"Exactly, mademoiselle," said Jean Oullier, not leaving Mary time to answer.
"Well, what have you to say about him, Jean? My father is delighted to get another adherent, and I can't see anything in that to make you frown."
"Your father may like it," replied the old keeper, "but it doesn't suit the rest of us; we have other ideas."
"May I be allowed to know them?"
"We think each side should stay in its own camp."