"Have no anxieties, my dear one," she exclaimed, coming close to him, her eyes moistened and voice trembling slightly, "I have our good Dominique to take care of me, and we shall soon return."
"I do not doubt it," he replied as cheerily as he was able, bending and gently kissing her forehead. "Prudence and Courage!—all shall go rightly."
But at the touch of his lips she started, threw her arms around his neck and passionately drew him to her.
"And what, my beloved, if it should not go rightly?—what for you to be left behind?"
"Darling, darling, do not say it," he cried, fervently returning her embraces. "All must and will go rightly. We cannot live without each other. Trust in Providence."
Ah, what those words meant for him!
"I do," she murmured, "but would that Dominique's priest were here. I long for the eternal union of our souls."
He pressed her to his breast in great emotion, then loosed his arms and stood looking sorrowfully at her again, as for the last time.
"Au revoir," she whispered, her eyes intensely searching into his.
"Au revoir, ma chère," he answered, mastering his voice with all his strength.