"If ever you say another word—" raising her hand.
"I won't unless you let me. You see you are not grown up yet, but sometimes people are betrothed when they are little children—"
She put her fingers in her ears and spun round and round, going down the little decline. Then she remembered Pani, who had fallen asleep. She motioned to Pierre.
"Go home," she commanded as he came toward her. "And if you ever talk about this to me again I shall tell your father. I am not for anybody. I shall not mind if I am one of St. Catherine's maids."
"Jeanne—"
"Go!" She made an imperative motion with her hand.
He walked slowly away. She started like a mad thing and ran through the woods at the top of her speed until her anger had vanished.
"Poor Pierre," she said. "This talk of marriage has set him crazy. But I could never like him, and Madame Mère just hates me."
She went slowly back to Pani and sat down by her side. How tired she looked!
"And I dragged her way up here," she thought remorsefully. "I'm glad she didn't wake up."