"Oh, how beautiful it was! Wasn"t it, Francois?"
"I believe you! And the communicants with their bows of white satin on the arm, and their wax candles, with red velvet and gold on the part by which they hold them."
"And the little boys had their banners, too, hadn"t they, Francois? Ah, Francois, how I was thumped that day for asking our mother why we did not go in the procession, like the other children!"
"And it was then she forbade us from ever going into a church when we should go into the town, or to Paris; "Unless it was to rob the poor-box, or the pockets of the people who were hearing ma.s.s," Calabash said, grinning, and showing her nasty yellow teeth. Oh, what a bad thing she is!"
"Oh, and as for that, they should kill me before I would rob in a church; and you, too, Francois?"
"There, or anywhere; what difference does it make, when once one has made up one"s mind?"
"Why, I don"t know; but I should be so frightened, I could never do it."
"Because of the priests?"
"No; but because of the portrait of the holy Virgin, who seems so kind and good."
"What consequence is a portrait? It won"t eat or drink, you silly child!"
"That"s very true; but then I really couldn"t. It is not my fault."
"Talking of priests, Amandine, do you remember that day when Nicholas gave me two such hard boxes on the ear, because he saw me make a bow to the curate, who pa.s.sed on the bank? I had seen everybody salute him, and so I saluted him; I didn"t think I was doing any wrong."
"Yes; but then, you know, Brother Martial said, as Nicholas did, that there was no occasion to salute the priests."
At this moment Francois and Amandine heard footsteps in the pa.s.sage.
Martial was going to his chamber, without any mistrust, after his conversation with his mother, believing that Nicholas was safely locked up until the next morning. Seeing a ray of light coming from out the closet in which the children slept, Martial came into the room. They both ran to him, and he embraced them affectionately.
"What! Not in bed yet, little gossips?"
"No, brother, we waited until you came, that we might see you, and wish you good night," said Amandine.
"And then we heard you speaking very loud below, as if there were a quarrel," added Francois.
"Yes," said Martial, "I had some dispute with Nicholas, but it was nothing. Besides, I am glad to see you awake, as I have some good news for you."
"For us, brother?"
"Should you like to go away from here, and come with me a long way off?"
"Oh, yes, brother!"
"Yes, brother!"
"Well, then, in two or three days we shall all three leave the island."
"Oh, how delightful!" exclaimed Amandine, clapping her hands with joy.
"And where shall we go to?" inquired Francois.
"You will see, Mr. Inquisitive; no matter; but where you will learn a good trade, which will enable you to earn your living, be sure of that."
"Then I sha"n"t go fishing with you any more, brother?"
"No, my boy, you will be put apprentice to a carpenter or locksmith. You are strong and handy, and with a good heart; and working hard, at the end of a year you may already have earned something. But you don"t seem to like it: why, what ails you now?"
"Why, brother,--I--"
"Come, come! Speak out."
"Why, I"d rather not leave you, but stay with you, and fish, and mend your nets, than go and learn a trade."
"Really?"
"Why, to be shut up in a workshop all day is so very dull; and then it must be so tiresome to be an apprentice."
Martial shrugged his shoulders.
"So, then, you would rather be an idler, a scamp, a vagabond,--eh?" said he, in a stern voice; "and then, perhaps, a thief?"
"No, brother; but I should like to live with you elsewhere, as we live here, that"s all."
"Yes, that"s it; eat, drink, sleep, and amuse yourself with fishing, like an independent gentleman,--eh?"
"Yes, I should like it."
"Very likely; but you must prefer something else. You see, my poor dear lad, that it is quite time I took you away from here; for, without perceiving it, you have become as idle as the rest. My mother was right,--I fear you have vice in you. And you, Amandine, shouldn"t you like to learn some business?"
"Oh, yes, brother; I should like very much to learn anything rather than stay here. I should dearly like to go with you and Francois."
"But what have you got on your head, my child?" inquired Martial, observing Amandine"s very fine head-dress.
"A handkerchief that Nicholas gave me."
"And he gave me one, too," said Francois, with an air of pride.
"And where did these handkerchiefs come from? I should be very much surprised to learn that Nicholas bought them to make you a present of."
The two children lowered their eyes, and made no reply. After a second, Francois said, with a resolute air, "Nicholas gave them to us. We do not know where they came from, do we, Amandine?"
"No, no, brother," replied Amandine, stammering, and turning very red, not daring to look Martial in the face.
"Don"t tell lies," said Martial, harshly.
"We don"t tell lies," replied Francois, doggedly.
"Amandine, my child, tell the truth," said Martial, mildly.
"Well, then, to tell the whole truth," replied Amandine, timidly, "these fine handkerchiefs came out of a box of things that Nicholas brought in this evening in his boat."