"Ma cousine," he whispered, catching at her hand, and raising it to his lips, "what shall I say? From despair springs hope, and you are the angel who brings it. Yes, yes. They will listen to you. My heart tells me so. They will listen to you, and Brittany will save not only herself but all France. We will save the King and our fair Queen too. Ah, ciel! could I think otherwise I should go mad. And la Rouerie will thank you himself for the noble part you play."
He spoke as though that last were reward enough for all.
But Gabrielle cared nothing for la Rouerie. It was her brother, her only brother, whom she went to save,—his honour which he, too weak to hold it, must give into her keeping.
Thus she would act as Michael himself acted, and he would approve.
Seeing that, shining through the trouble in his face, she herself could afford to smile.
They would save Morry together, save Varenac too, and come home as the heroes and heroines of gilded romance ever did, to live happily ever after.
No wonder that sweet seventeen, seeing dangers and difficulties couleur de rose under love's glamour, ran singing softly upstairs to acquaint Nurse Bond of the journey before her.