"True; but I could not; it is not my fault."
"Speaking of priests, Amandine, do you remember the day when Nicholas struck me so hard, because he saw me bow to the cure who was passing on the shore? I had seen him saluted—I did the same; I did not think there was any harm."
"Yes; but that time Martial said just the same as Nicholas—that we had no need to make a salute to a priest."
At this moment Francois and Amandine heard some one walk in the corridor.
Martial reached his chamber without any further trouble, after his conversation with the widow, believing Nicholas locked up until the next morning. Seeing a ray of light issuing from the door of the children's room, he went in. They both ran to him and embraced him tenderly.
"Not yet gone to bed, little chatterers?"
"No, brother; we waited for you to come and say good-night," said
Amandine.
"And, besides, some one was talking very loud downstairs, as if it was a quarrel," added Francois.
"Yes," said Martial, "I had a dispute with Nicholas, but it is nothing. I am glad to find you up; I have some good news to tell you."
"Us, brother?"