"Monsieur," with much dignity, "if you are so grand why do you not have a language of your own?"
"Because"--he was about to say--"we were English in the beginning," but the sharp, satirical curves lurking around her mouth checked him. What an odd, piquant creature she was!
"Come away," and Pani pulled her hand. "You talk too much to people and make M"sieu idle."
"O Pani!" She gave an exultant cry and sprang away, then stopped short.
For it was not only her friend, but a number of gentlemen in military attire and mounted on horses with gay trappings.
Monsieur St. Armand waved his hand to her. She shrank back and caught Pani"s gown.
"It is General Wayne," said the lieutenant, and paid him something more than the demands of superior rank, for admiration was in his eyes and Jeanne noticed it.
"My little friend," said St. Armand, leaning down toward Jeanne, "I am glad to see you again." He turned a trifle. The general and his aids were on a tour of inspection, and now the brave soldier leaped from the saddle, giving the child a glance.
"I have been coming to find you," began Monsieur. "I have many things to say to your attendant. Especially as in a few days I go away."
"O Monsieur, is it because you do not like--" her eyes followed the general"s suite.
"It is because I like them so well. I go to their capital on some business, and then to France. But I shall return in a year, perhaps. A year is not very long."
"Just a winter and a summer. There are many of them to life?"
"To some lives, yes. I hope there will be to yours, happy ones."
"I am always happy when I can run about or sail on the river. There are so many delightful things when no one bothers you."
"And the bothers are, I suppose, when some one considers your way not the best for you. We all meet with such things in life."
"My own way is the best," she replied, willfully, a daring light shining in her eyes. "Do I not know what gives me the most pleasure? If I want to go out and sing with the birds or run mad races with the dogs, or play with the children outside, that is the thing which gives me joy and makes my blood rush warm and bright in my veins. Monsieur, I told you I did not like to be shut up."
"Well, well. Remain in your little cottage this afternoon, and let me come and talk to you. I think I will not make you unhappy."
"Your voice is so sweet, Monsieur, but if you say disagreeable things, if you want me to learn to sew and to read--and to spin--the De Bers have just had a spinning wheel come. It is a queer thing and hums strangely. And Marie will learn to spin, her mother says. Then she will never be able to go in the woods for wild grapes and nuts. No, I cannot spend my time being so busy. And I do not care for stockings. Leggings are best for winter. And Touchas makes me moccasins."
Her feet and ankles were bare now. Dainty and shapely they were, and would have done for models.
"Monsieur, the soft gra.s.s and the warm sand is so pleasant to one"s feet. I am glad I am not a grand lady to wear clumsy shoes. Why, I could not run."
St. Armand laughed. He had never seen such a free, wild, human thing rejoicing exultantly in its liberty. It seemed almost a shame to capture her--like caging a bird. But she could not always be a child.
General Wayne had made his round and given some orders, and now he reappeared.
"I want to present you to this little girl of Detroit," began M. St.
Armand, "so that in years to come, when she hears of all your exploits, she will be proud that she had the honor. Jeanne Angelot is the small maid"s name. And this is our brave General Wayne, who has persuaded the Indians to peace and amity, and taught the English to keep their word.
But he can fight as well as talk."
"Monsieur, when they gave you welcome, I did not think you looked grand enough for a great general. But when I come near by I see you are brave and strong and determined. I honor you, Monsieur. I am glad you are to rule Detroit."
"Thank you, my little maid. I hope Detroit will become a great city, and that you may live many years in it, and be very happy."
She made a courtesy with free, exquisite grace. General Wayne leaped into his saddle and waved his hand.
"What an odd and charming child," he remarked to St. Armand. "No woman of society could have been more graceful and less abashed, and few would own up change of opinion with such nave sweetness. Of course she is a child of the people?"
"I am interested in learning who she really is;" and St. Armand repeated what he knew of her story.
"Her mother may have been killed by the Indians. There will be many a sad romance linked in with our early history, Sieur St. Armand."
As for Jeanne Angelot, many a time in after years she recalled her meeting with the brave general, and no one dreamed then that his brilliant career was to end so soon. Until November he held the post, repairing fortifications, promulgating new laws, redressing abuses, soothing the disaffected and, as far as he could, studying the best interests of the town. In November he started for the East, but at Presque Isle was seized with a fatal malady which ended his useful and energetic career, and proved a great loss to the country.
Monsieur St. Armand was late in keeping his word. There had been many things pressing on his attention and consideration. Jeanne had been very restless. A hundred desires flew to her mind like birds on the wing.
Never had there seemed so many charms outside of the walls. She ran down to see Marie at the new spinning wheel. Madame De Ber had not used one in a long time and was a little awkward.
"When I have Marie well trained I think I will take thee in hand," she said, rather severely. "Thou wilt soon be a big girl and then a maiden who should be laying by some garments and blankets and household gear.
And thou canst not even knit."
"But why should I? There are no brothers and sisters, and Wenonah is glad to make garments for me. Though I think M. Bellestre"s money pays for them. And Touchas sends such nice fur things."
"I should be ashamed to have other people work while I climbed trees and ran about with Indian children. Though it is half suspected they are kin to thee. But the French part should rule."
Jeanne threw up her head with a proud gesture.
"I should not mind. I often feel that they must be. They like liberty, so do I. We are like birds and wild deer."
Then the child ran back before any reply could be made. Yet she was not as indifferent as she seemed. She had not minded it until lately, but now when it came in this sort of taunt she could not tell why a remembrance of Louis Marsac should rise before her. After all, what did a little Indian blood matter? Many a girl smiled on Louis Marsac, for they knew his father was a rich fur trader. Was it the riches that counted?
"He will not come," she said half angrily to Pani. "The big ladies are very proud to have him. They wear fine clothes that come from France, and they can smile and Madame Fleury has a harp her daughters play upon.
But they might be content with the young men."
"It is not late yet," trying to console her darling.
"Pani, I shall go outside the gates. I am so tired. I want to run races to get my breath. It stops just as it does when the fog is in the air."
"No, child, stay here a little longer. It would be sad to miss him. And he is going away."
"Let him go. I think all men are a great trouble! You wait and wait for them. Then, if you go away they are sure to come."
Pani laughed. The child was br.i.m.m.i.n.g over with unreason. Yet her eyes were like stars, and in an uncomprehended way the woman felt the charm of her beauty. No, she would never part with her.
"O Pani!" The child sprang up and executed a _pas seul_ worthy of a larger audience. Her first impulse was to run to meet him. Then she suddenly subsided from some inexplicable cause, and a flush came to her cheek as she dropped down on a seat beside the doorway, made of the round of a log, and folded her hands demurely, looking out to the barracks.
Of course she turned when she heard the steps. There was a grave expression on her face, charming innocence that would have led anyone astray.
Pani rose and made an obeisance, and brought forward a chair.
"Or would Monsieur rather go in doors?" she inquired.
"O no. Little one--" he held out his hand.