"No," said Agapit, stepping between them.
"Rose," said Vesper, caressingly, "shall I go to see Charlitte?"
"Yes, yes," she moaned, desperately, and sinking to a chair, she dropped her swimming head on the table.
"No," said Agapit, again, "you shall not break God's laws. Rose is married to Charlitte."
Vesper tried to pass him, to assist Rose, who was half fainting, but Agapit's burly form was immovable, and the furious young American lifted his arm to strike him.
"Nâni," said Agapit, tossing his arm in the air, "two blows from no man for me," and he promptly knocked Vesper down.
Rose, shocked and terrified, instantly recovered. She ran to her fallen hero, bent over him with fond and distracted words, and when he struggled to his feet, and with a red and furious face would have flown at Agapit, she restrained him, by clinging to his arm.
"Dear fools," said Agapit, "I would have saved you this humbling, but you would not listen. It is now time to part. The doctor comes up the road."
Vesper made a superhuman effort at self-control, and passed his hand over his eyes, to clear away the mists of passion. Then he looked through the kitchen window. The doctor was indeed driving up to the inn.
"Good-by, Rose," he exclaimed, "and do you, Agapit," and he surveyed the Acadien in bitter resentment, "treat Charlitte as you have treated me, if he comes for her."