“May I come in?” he asked in French.
Jeannette came to the window.
“Who are you?” she inquired.
“What! don’t you know me?” said Bill.
“Ah! one of the young Englishmen!” she exclaimed; and she opened the window.
Bill jumped in.
“I am so happy to see you!” she cried. “Where have you come from? And your friend Jack, where is he? Have you both escaped from the soldiers? We thought you were in prison long ago;” and Jeannette put so many questions that Bill had great difficulty in answering them. He, however, soon contrived to let her know all that had happened, and then inquired for her father and mother and brother.
“Mother is in bed, quite ill,” she said; “she was so frightened by the soldiers, expecting to be carried off to prison, that she has not got over it. My father and Pierre are out fishing. I expect them home before midnight, but they said that they should be out later than usual.”
“I should like to stop and see them,” said Bill; “but in the meantime, can you give me something to eat? I am nearly starved.”
“Of course,” cried Jeannette; and she quickly placed some food before Bill, which he as quickly attacked.