At the sound of this voice, Hullin turned pale, and could make no reply. After a long silence, pressing her to his heart, he said: "No, Louise, I am quite well; I am very happy."
"Sit down, Jean-Claude," said the anabaptist, seeing him trembling with emotion; "here, take my chair."
Hullin sat down, and Louise, with her arms on his shoulder, began to cry.
"What is the matter, my child?" said the worthy man, kissing her. "Come, calm thyself. Only a few seconds ago thou wert so courageous."
"Oh, yes, but I was only acting; I was very much afraid. I thought, 'Why does he not come?'"
She threw her arms round his neck. Then a strange idea came into her head. She took him by the hand, crying: "Papa Jean-Claude, let us dance, let us dance!"
And they made three or four turns. Hullin could not help laughing, and turning toward the grave anabaptist, said: "We are rather mad, Pelsly; do not let that astonish you."
"No, Master Hullin, it is quite natural. King David himself danced before the ark after his great victory over the Philistines."
Jean-Claude, astonished to find that he was like King David, made no reply.
"And thou, Louise," he continued, stopping, "thou wert not afraid during this last battle?"