“Yes, when I think of Papa Louis and you, and Gerard and” Pierre she would have added, but she substituted “our good pastor. Papa Louis returns to-night?”
“To-morrow; and then adieu to monsieur the wolf yonder.”
Alaine’s face brightened. “I am glad, glad, Michelle; he has brought us evil days. Before he came how peaceful and content I was.”
“And now?”
The girl moved her head wearily. “I am too distraught by hopes and fears and dreads.”
“We will stop this,” thought Michelle. “She shall be safely married to Gerard before the winter is over. There, there, my child,” she said, aloud, “once we are rid of our wolf your happy days will come back. God forbid I should commit murder in my heart, but to you I confess that I would not grieve if the ship which carries this man back to France should lose him overboard.”
“Oh, Michelle, Michelle! You wicked?”
“I but spoke what more than one thinks,” returned Michelle. “You shall not see him again if I can arrange it. Go to Mathilde Duval, ask there that they lend me the little Jean, and remain till this one goes. I with Jean shall be safe till Gerard or Louis returns. We have but one guest now, though the worst of all he be. Yet, we must be patient, child, patient.”
Alaine was only too glad of escape. If they would but wed Mathilde to Gerard instead of to Pierre; but then what good would that do? Pierre would still be left. No, she must be patient, patient, as Papa Louis and Mère Michelle were always telling her. Patience, the great characteristic of the Huguenots, she must cultivate it, she would try to do right when the moment for action came.
François, now that he was rid of his rival, had no idea of departing too hastily. The next morning he was groaning on his bed, declaring that he had taken cold and that he suffered as much as ever. Michelle submitted to the inevitable with none too good a grace, and felt obliged to send for Alaine. There was no help for it, but it was a disappointment, for she had endured a long season of nursing and felt that she deserved release. Beyond this, with Papa Louis and Gerard both away there were added tasks for the two women, and Michelle’s face wore its grimmest expression. Whenever she could give Alaine tasks out of the house she did so, and it was not often that the girl was seen indoors. François clamored to have his screen removed, but this Michelle refused to do. She could not take the time, she said.