"Yes," nodded the airman.
The muleteer became voluble, patting Maryette on one arm and then on the other:
"J'ai vue Jack Burley, mamzelle, toot a l'heure! Il est bien, savvy voo! Il est tray, tray bien! Bocoo de trou! N'importe! Il va tray bien! Savvy voo? Jack Burley, l'ami de voo! Comprenny? On va le guerir toot sweet! Wee! Wee! Wee!——"
The girl flung her arms around the amazed muleteer's neck and kissed him impetuously on both cheeks. The muleteer blushed and his comrade fidgeted. Only the girl remained unembarrassed.
Half laughing, half crying, terribly excited, and very lovely to look upon, she caught both muleteers by their sleeves and poured out a torrent of questions. With the airman's aid she extracted what information they had to offer; and they went their way, flustered, still blushing, clasping bread and bottles to their agitated breasts.
The airman looked her keenly in the eyes as she came back from the door, still intensely[pg 234] excited, adorably transfigured. She opened her lips to speak—the happy exclamation on her lips, already half uttered, died there.
"Well?" inquired the airman quietly.
Dumb, still breathing rapidly, she returned his gaze in silence.
"Now that your friend Jack is going to live—what next?" asked the airman pleasantly.
For a full minute she continued to stare at him without a word.