He spoke English perfectly, with only sufficient accent to make it more charming.
Gabrielle laughed, the light-hearted gaiety of a bird in her voice.
"Good, good; I welcome you, cousin. You do not know how bored and weary I was becoming all alone here. And I never guessed how my ennui would be relieved."
She leant forward so that a shaft of sunshine set a halo about her head.
"And you come from France?"
The smiling face opposite clouded instantly.
"From Brittany, mademoiselle."
"My name is Gabrielle. We are cousins. You must not call me mademoiselle, and I shall call you Jéhan."
If he was surprised at the freedom of her speech he was too courtly a gentleman to show it, and merely bowed, accepting her words.
"From Brittany?" Gabrielle continued. "Then you have escaped from——"