Part 13 (1/2)
”I thought you had forgotten. It is late,” she said plaintively.
”I am a busy man, my child. I could wish for a little of the freedom that you rejoice in so exuberantly, though I dare say I shall have enough on my journey.”
What a companion this gay, chattering child would be, going through new scenes!
”Mademoiselle, are you ever serious? Or are you too young to take thought of to-morrow?”
”I am always planning for to-morrow, am I not, Pani? And if it rains I do not mind, but go the same, except that it is not always safe on the river, which sometimes seems as if the giant monster of the deep was sailing about in it.”
”There is another kind of seriousness, my child, and a thought of the future that is not mere pleasure. You will outgrow this gay childhood.
You may even find it necessary to go to some other country. There may be friends awaiting you that you know nothing of now. You would no doubt like to have them pleased with you, proud of you. And for this and true living you need some training. You must learn to read, to speak English, and you will find great pleasure in it. Then you will enjoy talking to older people. You see you will be older yourself.”
His eyes were fixed steadily on hers and would not allow them to waver.
She felt the power of the stronger mind.
”I have been talking with M. Bellestre's notary. He thinks you should go to school. There are to be some schools started as soon as the autumn opens. You know you wanted to learn why the world was round, and about the great continent of Europe and a hundred interesting subjects.”
”But, Monsieur, it is mostly prayers. I do not so much mind Sunday, for then there are people to see. But to have it every day--and the same things over and over--”
She gave a yawn that was half ridiculous grimace.
”Prayers, are very good, Mam'selle. While I am away I want you to pray for me that sometime G.o.d will bring me back safe and allow me to see you again. And I shall say when I see the sun rising on the other side of the world, 'It is night now in old Detroit and there is a little girl praying for me.'”
”O Monsieur, would you be glad?” Her eyes were suffused with a mistlike joy. ”Then I will pray for you. That is so different from praying for people you don't know anything about, and to--to saints. I don't know them either. I feel as if they sat in long rows and just nodded to you.”
”Pray to the good G.o.d, my child,” he returned gravely. ”And if you learn to read and write you might send me a letter.”
Her eyes opened wide in amazement. ”Oh, I could never learn enough for that!” she cried despairingly.
”Yes, you can, you will. M. Loisel will arrange it for you. And twice a week you will go to the sisters, I have promised Father Rameau. There will be plenty of time to run and play besides.”
Jeanne Angelot looked steadily down on the ground. A caterpillar was dragging its length along and she touched it with her foot.
”It was once a b.u.t.terfly. It will spin itself up in a web and hang somewhere all winter, and in the spring turn to a b.u.t.terfly again.”
”That ugly thing!” in intense surprise.
”And how the trees drop their leaves in the autumn and their buds are done up in a brown sheath until the spring suns.h.i.+ne softens it and the tiny green leaf comes out, and why the birds go to warmer countries, because they cannot stand snow and sleet, and return again; why the bee shuts himself up in the hollow tree and sleeps, and a hundred beautiful things. And when I come back we will talk them over.”
”O Monsieur!” Her rose lips quivered and the dimple in her chin deepened as she drew a long breath that stirred every pulse of her being.
He had touched the right chord, awakened a new life within her. There was a struggle, yet he liked her the better for not giving up her individuality in a moment.
”Monsieur,” she exclaimed with a new humility, ”I will try--indeed I will.”
”That is a brave girl. M. Loisel will attend to the matter. And you will be very happy after a while. It will come hard at first, but you must be courageous and persevering. And now I must say good-by for a long while.
Pani I know will take excellent care of you.”
He rose and shook hands with the woman, whose eyes were full of love for the child of her adoption. Then he took both of Jeanne's little brown hands in his and pressed them warmly.