his fingers, and brought them to his lips with an indescribable
reverence. After a moment, standing with eyes fixed on the face of the
crucified figure, he said, in a shaking voice:

"_Pardon, bon Jésu! Sauves mon enfant! Ne me laissez pas seul!_"

The boy looked up with eyes again grown unnaturally heavy, and said:

"Amen!... _Bon Jésu!... Encore! Encore, mon père!_"

[Illustration]




[Illustration]

V


The boy slept. The father stood still by the bed for a time, but at last
slowly turned and went toward the fire.

Outside, two figures were approaching the hut--a man and a woman; yet at
first glance the man might easily have been taken for a woman, because
of his clean-shaven face, of the long black robe which he wore, and
because his hair fell loose on his shoulders.

"Have patience, my daughter," said the man. "Do not enter till I call
you. But stand close to the door, if you will, and hear all."