“The maid is in our care,” he said, “and also in that of Lieutenant Danton. It would seem that he––”
“There’s no use in expecting him to take any responsibility, Father.”
“Yes, I suppose you are right. He is a child.”
“Will you go to the maid, Father, and get straight at the truth? You see that I cannot meddle with her thoughts without danger of being misinterpreted. It is you who must be her adviser.”
The priest acquiesced, and they returned to the camp, to find the maid still sitting alone, with a troubled face, and Danton puttering about the fire with a show of keeping himself occupied. They ate in silence, in spite of Menard’s efforts to arouse them. After the meal they hung about, each hesitating to wander away, and yet seeing no pleasure in gathering about the fire. Menard saw that Father Claude had it in mind to speak to the maid, so he got Danton away on a pretext of looking over the stores. But he said nothing of the episode that was in all their minds, preferring to await the priest’s report. 92
After the maid had gone to her couch beneath the canoe, and Danton had wandered into the wilderness that was all about them, Father Claude joined Menard at the fire.
“Well, Father, what word?”
“Softly, M’sieu. It is not likely that she sleeps as yet.”
“Well?”
“I have talked long with her, but she is of a stubborn mind.”