Monsieur St. Armand waved his hand to her. She shrank back and caught Pani's gown.
"It is General Wayne," said the lieutenant, and paid him something more than the demands of superior rank, for admiration was in his eyes and Jeanne noticed it.
"My little friend," said St. Armand, leaning down toward Jeanne, "I am glad to see you again." He turned a trifle. The general and his aids were on a tour of inspection, and now the brave soldier leaped from the saddle, giving the child a glance.
"I have been coming to find you," began Monsieur. "I have many things to say to your attendant. Especially as in a few days I go away."
"O Monsieur, is it because you do not like—" her eyes followed the general's suite.
"It is because I like them so well. I go to their capital on some business, and then to France. But I shall return in a year, perhaps. A year is not very long."
"Just a winter and a summer. There are many of them to life?"
"To some lives, yes. I hope there will be to yours, happy ones."
"I am always happy when I can run about or sail on the river. There are so many delightful things when no one bothers you."
"And the bothers are, I suppose, when some one considers your way not the best for you. We all meet with such things in life."