The Lady of Fort St. John | Page 5

the fort instead of
more women," said his lady, as they mounted the slope. "But this one
might have perished in the stockade where we found her, and your lord
not only misliked her, as you seem to do, but he held her in suspicion.
In a manner, therefore, she is our prisoner, though never went prisoner
so helplessly with her captors."
"Yes, any one might take such a creature," said Klussman.
"Those are no fit words to speak, Klussman."
He was unready with his apology, however, and tramped on without
again looking behind. Madame La Tour glanced at her ship, which
would have to wait for wind and tide to reach the usual mooring.
"Did you tell me you had news?" she was reminded to ask him.
"Madame, I have some news, but nothing serious."
"If it be nothing serious, I will have a change of garments and my

supper before I hear it. We have had a hard voyage."
"Did my lord send any new orders?"
"None, save to keep this poor girl about the fort; and that is easily
obeyed, since we can scarce do otherwise with her."
"I meant to ask in the first breath how he fared in the outset of his
expedition."
"With a lowering sky overhead, and wet red clay under-foot. But I
thanked Heaven, while we were tossing with a broken mast, that he was
at least on firm land and moving to his expectations."
They entered the gateway, Madame La Tour's cheeks tingling richly
from the effort of climbing. She saluted her garrison, and her garrison
saluted her, each with a courteous pride in the other, born of the joint
victory they had won over D'Aulnay de Charnisay when he attacked the
fort. Not a man broke rank until she entered her hall. There was a
tidiness about the inclosure peculiar to places inhabited by women. It
added grace even to military appointments.
"You miss the swan, madame," noted Klussman. "Le Rossignol is out
again."
"When did she go?"
"The night after my lord and you sailed northward. She goes each time
in the night, madame."
"And she is still away?"
"Yes, madame."
"And this is all you know of her?"
"Yes, madame. She went, and has not yet come back."
"But she always comes back safely. Though I fear," said Madame La

Tour on the threshold, "the poor maid will some time fall into harm."
He opened the door, and stood aside, saying under his breath, "I would
call a creature like that a witch instead of a maid."
"I will send for you, Klussman, when I have refreshed myself."
"Yes, madame."
The other women filed past him, and entered behind his lady.
The Swiss soldier folded his arms, staring hard at that crouching
vagrant brought from Beausejour. She had a covering over her face,
and she held it close, crowding on the heels in front of her as if she
dared not meet his eye.

II.
LE ROSSIGNOL.
A girlish woman was waiting for Marie within the hall, and the two
exchanged kisses on the cheek with sedate and tender courtesy.
"Welcome home, madame."
"Home is more welcome to me because I find you in it, Antonia. Has
anything unusual happened in the fortress while I have been setting
monsieur on his way?"
"This morning, about dawn, I heard a great tramping of soldiers in the
hall. One of the women told me prisoners had been brought in."
"Yes. The Swiss said he had news. And how has the Lady Dorinda
fared?"
"Well, indeed. She has described to me three times the gorgeous
pageant of her marriage."

They had reached the fireplace, and Marie laughed as she warmed her
hands before a pile of melting logs.
"Give our sea-tossed bundle and its mother a warm seat, Zélie," she
said to her woman.
The unknown girl was placed near the hearth corner, and constrained to
take upon her knees an object which she held indifferently. Antonia's
eyes rested on her, detecting her half-concealed face, with silent
disapproval.
"We found a child on this expedition."
"It hath a stiffened look, like a papoose," observed Antonia. "Is it well
in health?"
"No; poor baby. Attend to the child," said Marie sternly to the mother;
and she added, "Zélie must go directly with me to my chests before she
waits on me, and bring down garments for it to this hearth."
"Let me this time be your maid," said Antonia.
"You may come with me and be my resolution, Antonia; for I have to
set about the unlocking of boxes which hold some sacred clothes."
"I never saw you lack courage, madame, since I have known you."
"Therein have I deceived you then," said Marie, throwing her cloak on
Zélie's arm, "for I am a