Why did not Pani say something about him? Why did she sit there half asleep?
"Wasn't it queer, Pani, that we should go so near the wharf, when we were trying to run away—"
She ended with a short laugh, in which there was neither pleasure nor mirth.
Pani glanced up with distressful eyes.
"Eh, child!" she cried, with a sort of anguish, "it is a pity thou wert made so beautiful."
"But there are many pretty girls, and great ladies are lovely to look at. Why should I not have some of the charm? It gives one satisfaction."
"There is danger for thee in it. Perhaps, after all, the Recollet house would be best for thee."
"No, no;" with a passionate protest. "And, Pani, no man can make me marry him. I would scream and cry until the priest would feel afraid to say a word."
Pani put her thin, brown hand over the plump, dimpled one; and her eyes were large and weird.
"Thou art afraid of Louis Marsac," she said.