Star.”
“I wanted to see you so,” in a breathless fashion.
“What has happened?”
“Why, nothing. Only the day seemed so long.”
“You went to the father’s?”
“Oh, yes,” rather indifferently.
“Why didn’t you run over then? You might have taken supper with me.”
“Because – there were Elise and Sophie.”
“But there was supper enough to go round. We had some fine broiled fish. Mère Lunde is an excellent cook.”
“Oh, when can I come to stay?” Her tone was full of entreaty, and her eyes soft with emotion.
“But – you won’t have any little girls to play with.”
“I don’t want any one but you.”
He had paused from his work, and now she sprang to him and encircled him as far as she could with her small arms.
“You are not homesick?” It would be strange, indeed, since she had never had a true home.
“I don’t know. That,” giving her head a turn, “is not my real home.”
“Oh, no. But they have all been good to you. Ma’m’selle Barbe is very fond of you.”
“Oh, everybody is good and kind. Even Louis, though he teases. And Père Renaud. But not one of them is you —you.”
“My little girl!” He stooped over and hugged her, kissed her fondly. The child’s love was so innocent, so sincere, that it brought again the hopes of youth.
“And you will always keep me – always?” There was a catch in her breath like a sob.
“Why, yes. What has any one said to you?” with a slight touch of indignation.
“Sophie said you were not my own uncle. What would make you so? Can you never be?”
There was a pathos in her tone that touched him to the heart, even as he smiled at her childish ignorance, and was wild to have the past undone.
“My dear, you can hardly understand. I must have been your mother’s brother.”
“Oh, then you would have belonged to that hateful old man!” and she gave her foot a quick stamp. “No, I should not want you to.”
He laughed softly. He would have been glad enough to belong to the hateful old man years ago, and belong to the child as well.
“It doesn’t matter, little one,” he said tenderly. “I shall be your uncle all my life long. Don’t bother your head about relationships. Come, see your room. It will soon be dry, and then you shall take possession.”
It had been whitewashed, and the puncheon floor – laid in most houses, it being difficult to get flat boards – stained a pretty reddish color. The window had a curtain hung to it, some of the Canadian stuff. One corner had been partitioned off for a closet. There was a box with a curtain tacked around it, and a white cover over it, to do duty as a dressing-table. There were two rustic chairs, and some pretty Indian basket-like pouches had been hung around.
“Oh, oh!” she cried in delight. “Why, it is as pretty as Ma’m’selle Barbe’s – almost as pretty,” correcting herself. “And can I not come at once?”
“There must be a bed for you to sleep on, though we might sling a hammock.”
“And Mère Lunde?”
“Come through and see.”
In one corner of this, which was the ordinary living room, was a sort of pallet, a long box with a cover, in which Mère Lunde kept her own belongings, with a mattress on the top, spread over with a blanket, answering for a seat as well. She had despoiled her little cottage, for Gaspard Denys had said, “It is a home for all the rest of your life if you can be content,” and she had called down the blessings of the good God upon him. So, here were shelves with her dishes, some that her mother had brought over to New Orleans as a bride; china and pewter, and coarse earthenware acquired since, and queer Indian jars, and baskets stiffened with a kind of clay that hardened in the heating.
“Welcome, little one,” she exclaimed cheerfully. “The good uncle gets ready the little nest for thee. And soon we shall be a family indeed.”
She lighted a torch and stood it in the corner, and smiled upon Renée.
“Oh, I shall be so glad to come!” cried the child joyfully. “And my room is so pretty.”
She looked with eager eyes from one to the other.
“And the garden is begun. There are vines planted by ma’m’selle’s window. In a month one will not know the place. And it is near to the church and the good father’s house.”
“But I wouldn’t mind if it was a desert, so long as you both were here,” she replied enthusiastically.
“We must go back, little one. They will wonder about you. Just be patient awhile.”
“And thou hast no cap,” said Mère Lunde.
“Oh, that does not matter; the night is warm. Adieu,” taking the hard hand in her soft one. Then she danced away and caught Gaspard’s arm.
“Let us walk about a little,” she pleaded. “The moon is so beautiful.” If they went direct to the Renauds’, he would sit on the gallery and talk to Barbe.
“Which way?” pausing, looking up and down.
“Oh, toward the river. The moon makes it look like a silver road. And it is never still except at night.”
That was true enough. Business ended at the old-fashioned supper time. There was one little French tavern far up the Rue Royale, near the Locust Street of to-day; but the conviviality of friends, which was mostly social, took place at home, out on the wide porches, where cards were played for amusement. The Indians had dispersed. A few people were strolling about, and some flat boats were moored at the dock, almost indistinguishable in the shade. The river wound about with a slow, soft lapping, every little crest and wavelet throwing up a sparkling gem and then sweeping it as quickly away.
From here one could see out to both ends. The semi-circular gates terminated at the river’s edge, and at each a cannon was planted and kept in readiness for use. Now and then there would be vague rumors about the English on the opposite shore. The new stockade of logs and clay surmounted by pickets was slowly replacing the worn-out one.
Renée was fain to linger, with her childish prattle and touching gestures of devotion. How the child loved him already! That a faint tint of jealousy had been kindled would have amused him if he had suspected it.
When they turned back in the Rue Royale they met M. Renaud enjoying his pipe.
“Ah, truant!” he exclaimed; “they were beginning to feel anxious about you. Barbe declared you might stay all night. Was it not true you had threatened?”
“They would not have me,” she returned laughingly,
