“Be grateful for tha life and make thaself content soon with the simple ways of the farm in Yorkshire!”
Lisle still stood with his hands on Humphrey’s shoulders, and as the farmer spoke he realized suddenly their immediate peril. They were to leave not only Paris but France, too, and Humphrey Trail was offering them all he had to give in the way of hospitality in England!
Lisle looked across at the girls, and then back at Humphrey.
“You mean we are to go to England. There is so much to think about and to plan. I wish we three, you, Dian, and I, could be alone so that we could plan what’s best to do,” he said.
It was just at that moment that the shepherd appeared, coming down the secret stairs backward. Marie Josephine and Rosanne jumped off the chest and ran up to him. He stood in their midst with his hands at his sides, looking about at all of them, and for the first time since they had known him, all of them felt that he, for the moment, was fighting something that was trying to overpower him, and that this something was fear! It was gone almost as it came, his face cleared, and he smiled, putting his hand on Marie Josephine’s shoulder.
“There is work for you, Little Mademoiselle,” he said.
Lisle had come up to them.
“Let there be work for me, too, Dian,” he said.
Dian nodded. “Yes, work for each one of us so that we may go safely out of this mad city, and that you who are in danger may find refuge in England.” As he spoke he took Marie Josephine’s hand and went on speaking, this time addressing himself directly to Humphrey:
“The servant Henri was genuine in his repentance. He has offered practical help in one direction. I will return with the Little Mademoiselle later in the day.”