As he was passing by the farm of Bois-de-Chênes, he went in to tell Catherine Lefévre that all was going well, and that the mountaineers only awaited the signal.
A quarter of an hour later, Master Jean-Claude, descending the footpath to the house, stood opposite his own modest dwelling.
CHAPTER VII.
Before pushing open the creaking door, the idea struck Jean-Claude to see what Louise was doing at that moment. So he took a peep through the casement into the little room, and there he saw Louise standing by the curtains in the alcove; she seemed very busily employed in folding and unfolding some clothes spread out upon the bed. Her sweet face beamed with happiness, and her large blue eyes shone with a sort of enthusiasm; she was speaking aloud to herself at the same time. Hullin listened, but a cart that happened to be passing just at that moment prevented his hearing what she said.
So, taking his resolution boldly, he entered, saying, in a firm voice; "Well, Louise, here I am back again."
In an instant, the young girl, radiant with joy, and bounding like a fawn, was in his arms.
"Ah! it is you, father dear; I was expecting you. Oh! what a time you have been away, but here you are at last!"
"Because, my child," replied the brave man, in a tone a trifle less firm, placing his stick behind the door, and his hat upon the table; "because——"