"Yes," she said; "what you say is true, Jéhan. If Morice is not here, his ill-work is yet to do and I"—she nodded her head emphatically—"I can do something, seeing that I am as much Varenac as he."
"Bravely spoken, Gabrielle. You are an angel. Ciel! and a heroine too. But——"
Even boyish enthusiasm perceived difficulties ahead, as he thought of this young girl here, unattended, save for an old nurse, at the Manor of Varenac with these others.
"Perhaps," he added slowly, "as your brother is not here, it were better did I take you to Kérnak. The post-chaise is still at the door."
But this suggestion did not find favour in the sight of little Mistress Gabrielle.
"My place is at Varenac," she observed, with an air of amusing self-importance. "I thank you, cousin, but I must stay here."
"Alone?"
His faintly murmured expostulation met with wide-eyed surprise.
"Certainly not. These gentlemen will be here to ... to protect me. And I have Nurse Bond."
He dared say no more, though conscious that his mother would regard such an arrangement with horror.