Father Leroque perceived Lida’s distressful inability to pull herself together at that moment, and he employed his ready tact, giving her time for thought. “It’s quite a natural thing, this taking away of the new bridegroom for the service of the Flaggs,” he declared with a chuckle. “There’s even a song—I think it was written by Poet O’Gorman. Do you know it, Felix? I can see by your grin that you do. Very well. Let’s have it. As I remember it, it states the case according to the Flagg methods.”
Lapierre pulled off his cap; his eyes were alight with merriment; he sang gayly:
The night that I was married—the night that I was wed—
Up there came old Echford Flagg and rapped on my bed head.
Said he, “Arise, young married man, and come along with me,
Where the waters of the Noda they do roar along so free.”
“You see!” suggested the priest, archly, smiling, palms spread. “When Flagg calls, the honeymoon must wait. It promises good adventure, and Felix would be sorry if he were not in it.”
Cap in hand, Lapierre swept his arm in a broad gesture of respectful devotion. It was a touch of gallantry which raised the affair above the prosaic details of mere business and which made the relations closer than those of employer and employed.
In Lida gratitude was succeeding amazement, and the glow of that gratitude was warming her courage into life again. When she had stepped from Nicola’s door a few moments before she felt bitterly alone and helpless and she had no eye for the glory of the day. Suddenly the sunshine seemed transcendently cheery. All the aspects of the case were changed. Now she could go on to the drive as one of the Flaggs should go—with loyal men at her back to replace those who had deserted. She could hearten a broken crew with men, not merely with a strange girl’s plaintive story and appeal.
“We’re ready, mam’selle,” said Felix.
The women of the community were gathered in front of the sachem’s house.
Lapierre went smiling to his bride and put his arm about her; but when he started to draw her toward Lida the latter anticipated the coming by running to meet them. She took the little bride in her arms.
The priest, Felix, and the governor swapped looks and nods which indorsed an understanding that was wordless between the young women.