"It is about the child I have come to talk. Monsieur Bellestre has made some provision for her, queerly worded, too."
"Oh, he does not take her away from me!" cried the foster mother in anguish.
"No. He had some strange notions not in accord with the Church, we all know, that liberty to follow one"s opinion is a good thing. It is not always so in worldly affairs even, but of late years it has come largely in vogue in religious matters. And here is the part of his will that pertains to her. You would not understand the preamble, so I will tell it in plain words. To you, Pani, is given the house and a sum of money each year. To the child is left a yearly portion until she is sixteen, then, if she becomes a Catholic and chooses the lot of a sister, it ceases. Otherwise it is continued until she is married, when she is given a sum for a dowry. And at your death your income reverts to the Bellestre estate."
"Monsieur Bellestre did not want me to become a nun, then?"
Jeanne asked the question gravely as a woman.
"It seems not, Mam"selle. He thinks some one may come to claim you, but that is hardly probable after all these years;" and there was a dryness in the notary"s tone. "You are to be educated, but I think the sisters know better what is needful for a girl. There are no restrictions, however. I am to see that the will is carried out, and the new court is to appoint what is called a guardian. The money is to be sent to me every six months. It surely is a great shame Mam"selle has no male relatives."
"Shall we have to change, Monsieur?" asked Pani with a dread in her voice.
"Oh, no; unless Mam"selle should--" he looked questioningly at the girl.
"I shall never leave Pani." She came and stretching up clasped her arms about the woman"s neck as she had in her babyhood. "And I like to go to school to the master."
"M. Bellestre counts this way, that you were three years old when you came to Detroit. That was nine years ago. And that you are twelve now.
So there are four years--"
"It looks a long while, but the past does not seem so. Why, last winter is like the turn of your hand," and she turned hers over with a smile.
"Many things may happen in four years." No doubt she would have a lover and marry. "Let me go over it again."
They both listened, Jeanne wide-eyed, Pani nodding her head slowly.
"I must tell you that M. Bellestre left fifty pounds to Father Rameau for any purpose he considered best. And now the court will take it in hand, but these new American courts are all in confusion and very slow.
Still, as there is to be no change, and the money will come through me as before, why, there will be no trouble."
Pani nodded again but made no comment. She could hardly settle her mind to the fact of Monsieur Bellestre"s death.
"Allow me to congratulate you, Mam"selle, on having so sincere a friend." M. Loisel held out his hand.
"If he had but come back! I do not care for the money."
"Still, money is a very good thing. Well, we will have several more talks about this. Adieu, Mam"selle. My business is ended at present."
He bowed politely as he went out; but he thought, "It is a crazy thing leaving her to the care of that old Indian woman. Surely he could not have distrusted Father Rameau? And though the good father is quite sure--well, it does not do for anyone to be too sure in this world."
Father Rameau came that very afternoon and had a long talk with Pani. He did not quite understand why M. Bellestre should be so opposed to the Church taking charge of the child, since she was not in the hands of any relative. But he had promised Pani she should not be separated from her, indeed, no one had a better right to her, he felt.
M. Bellestre"s family were strong Huguenots, and had been made to suffer severely for their faith in Old France, and not a little in the new country. He had not cordially loved the English, but he felt that the larger liberty had been better for the settlement, and that education was the foe to superst.i.tion and bigotry, as well as ignorance. While he admitted to himself, and frankly to the town, the many excellencies of the priest, it was the system, that held the people in bondage and denied enlightenment, that he protested against. It was with great pain that he had discovered his wife"s gradual absorption, but knowing death was at hand he could not deny her last request. But the child should choose for herself, and, if under Pani"s influence she should become a Catholic, he would not demur. From time to time he had accounts from M.
Loisel, and he had been pleased with the desire of the child for education. She should have that satisfaction.
And now spring was coming again. The sense of freedom and rejoicing broke out anew in Jeanne, but she found herself restrained by some curious power that was finer than mere propriety. She was growing older and knowledge enlarged her thoughts and feelings, stirred a strange something within her that was ambition, though she knew it not; she had not grown accustomed to the names of qualities.
The master was taking great pride in her, and gave her the few advantages within his reach. Detroit was being slowly remodeled, but it was discouraging work, since the French settlers were satisfied with their own ways, and looked with suspicion on improvements even in many simple devices for farming.
With the fur season the town was in wild confusion and holiday jollity prevailed. There were Indians with packs; and the old race of the _coureurs des bois_, who were still picturesque with their red sashes and jaunty habiliments. They were wild men of the woods, who had thrown off the restraints of civilized life and who hunted as much for the pleasure as the profit. They could live in a wigwam, they could join Indian dances, they were brave, hardy, but in some instances savage as the Indians themselves and quite as lawless. A century ago they had been the pioneers of the fur hunters, with many a courageous explorer among them. The newer organizations of the fur companies had curtailed their power and their numbers had dwindled, but they kept up their wild habits, and this was the carouse of the whole year.
It was a busy season. There was great chaffering, disputing, and not a few fights, though guards were detailed along the river front to keep the peace as far as was possible. Boats were being loaded for Montreal, cargoes to be shipped down the Hudson and from thence abroad, with mink and otter and beaver, beautiful fox furs, white wolf and occasionally a white bear skin that dealers would quarrel about.
Then the stores of provisions to be sent back to the trappers and hunters, the clothes and blankets and trinkets for the Indians, kept shopkeepers busy day and night, and poured money into their coffers. New men were going out,--to an adventurous young fellow this seemed the great opportunity of his life.
Jeanne Angelot"s fortune had been noised abroad somewhat, though she paid little attention to it even in her thoughts. But she was a girl with a dowry now, and she was not only growing tall but strangely pretty as well. Her skin was fairer, her hair, which still fell in loose curls, was kept in better order. Coif she would not wear, but sometimes she tied a bright kerchief under her chin and looked bewitching.
French mothers of sons were never averse to a dowry, although men were so in want of wives that few went begging for husbands. Women paused to chat with Pani and make kindly inquiries about her charge. Even Madame De Ber softened. She was opposed to Pierre"s going north with the hunters, but he was so eager and his father considered it a good thing.
And now he was a strapping big fellow, taller than his father, slowly shaping up into manhood.
"Thou hast not been to visit Marie?" she said one day on meeting Jeanne face to face. "She has spoken of it. Last year you were such a child, but now you have quite grown and will be companionable. All the girls have visited her. Her husband is most excellent."
"I have been busy with lessons," said Jeanne with some embarra.s.sment.
Then, with a little pride--"Marie dropped me, and if I were not to be welcome--"
"Chut! chut! Marie had to put on a little dignity. A child like you should bear no malice."
"But--she sent me no invitation."
"Then I must chide her. And it will be pleasant down there in the summer. Do you know that Pierre goes back with the hunters?"
"I have heard--yes."
"It is not my wish, but if he can make money in his youth so much the better. And the others are growing up to fill his place. Good day to thee, Jeanne."
That noon Madame De Ber said to her husband, "Jeanne Angelot improves greatly. Perhaps the school will do her no harm. She is rather sharp with her replies, but she always had a saucy tongue. A girl needs a mother to correct her, and Pani spoils her."
"She will have quite a dowry, I have heard," remarked her husband.
Pierre flushed a little at this pleasant mention of her name. If Jeanne only walked down in the town like some of the girls! If Rose might ask her to go!
But Rose did not dare, and then there was Martin ready to waylay her.
Three were awkward when you liked best to have a young man to yourself.
How many times Pierre had watched her unseen, her lithe figure that seemed always atilt even when wrapped in furs, and her starry eyes gleaming out of her fur hood. Not even Rose could compare with her in that curious daintiness, though Pierre would have been at loss to describe it, since his vocabulary was limited, but he felt it in every slow beating pulse. He had resolved to speak, but she never gave him the opportunity. She flashed by him as if she had never known him.
But he must say good-by to her. There was Madelon Dace, who had quarreled with her lover and gone to a dance with some one else and held her head high, never looking to the right or the left, and then as suddenly melted into sweetness and they would be married. Yet Madelon had said to his sister Marie, "I will never speak to him, never!" What had he done to offend Jeanne so deeply? Girls were not usually angered at a man falling in love with them.
So Pierre"s pack was made up. In the autumn they could send again. He took tea the last time with Marie. The boats were all ready to start up the Huron.
He went boldly to the little cottage and said courageously to Pani, though his heart seemed to quake almost down to his feet, "I am going away at noon. I have come to say good-by to Jeanne--and to you," put in as an afterthought.
"What a great fellow you are, Pierre! I wish you good luck. Jeanne--"
Jeanne had almost forgotten her childish anger, and the love making was silly, even in remembrance.
"Surely I wish thee good luck, Pierre," she said formally, with a smile not too warm about her rosy lips. "And a fortunate hunting and trading."
"A safe return, Mam"selle, put that in," he pleaded.