'And away, far away from Paris and Bernay, where there are trees and mountains. Gabrielle, my father took me once when I was a little girl to a beautiful country where there were great mountains, and snow covered them in the midst of summer; and there were forests there, and people did not talk French. I ran away and hid among the rocks and trees. I was a little girl then, quite a little girl; but they could not find me. I was behind a mossy stone, and I saw them searching, and they never would have found me, unless I had laughed aloud. We will go there. I have not laughed for many years; we shall be able to hide away there, and they would never find us. Of that I am sure. I would not laugh and let them catch me. We shall go there.'
'Where was that?' asked Gabrielle, her mind recurring to the Deschwandens, father and son.
'I do not know. I remember, that is all.'
'Was it,' asked Gabrielle, hesitatingly, 'was it, do you think, the country of Bruder Klaus?'
'I do not know. We shall take Gabriel with us, shall we not?'
'Certainly.'
'And you will be with me always?'
'Yes, I will not leave you, dear, kind mistress, unless you send me away.'
'That I will never do.'