“A lovely way it was,” said Claire. The river’s breath came to them fresh and clean, leaving a touch of dampness on the skin. Already the wooded south shore was clothing itself in purple, but northward the expanse of water still held to what it had received from sunset. “That was very different from the voyage on shipboard.”
“Are you not tired?”
“I was tired only once—at Montreal,” hinted Claire, gazing at the extremity of the island.
“Again I beg you to pardon that. I had been nearly ten days away from my command and there were serious matters to attend to. Put it out of your mind and let us be very happy this evening.”
“And every following evening. That goes without saying.”
“I must report at my fortress at daybreak to-morrow.”
“You should have left my caskets at Montreal, monsieur,” exclaimed Claire. “I could do without them here one night.”
“You want to turn your back on poor St. Bernard immediately?”
“Monsieur, you do not mean to separate yourself from me?” she inquired lightly, keeping control of her trembling voice.
“I brought you here to take possession of my land,” said Dollard.