“Then I’m not to tell him whether you want to marry him?”
“How can you tell him what you don’t know?”
“Well, but, I mean that you’re not going to tell me, so that I might tell him?”
“Certainly not.”
“Not a word to him and not a word to you—nor to anybody! Not even to Archie!”
“Yes. That is exactly what you must promise me.”
“This is a very unpleasant state of things,” said Little Bill, with a sad and puzzled countenance, “but of course I promise, for it is your affair, you know.”
It was a notable fact, which Little Bill did not fail to note—but did not dare to mention—that after that date there was a distinct change of demeanour in Elise Morel towards the handsome sailor—whether in his favour or otherwise it was impossible to tell.
Meanwhile, events were pending which were destined to exercise a very powerful influence over the fortunes of the Red River Colony, and, indeed, over the condition of the whole of Rupert’s Land.