and after zat for a week. A-a-a-h! yes, Le Boss! only at me he not
dare to look, for I have the charm, and he know that, and he is afraid.
Aha, yes, he is afraid of Marie too, when he wish to make devil work.

"And here," she cried, turning suddenly upon Abby, "you say you have no
such thing, Abiroc,"--this was the name she had given her
hostess,--"and here, too, is the evil eye, first what I see in this
place, except the dear little children. A man yesterday came while I
played, and looked--but, frightful! Ah!" she started from her seat by
the window, and retreated hastily to the corner. "He comes, the same
man! Put me away, Abiroc! put me away! He is bad, he is wicked! I
die if he look at me!" and she ran hastily out of the room, just as
Jacques De Arthenay entered it.




CHAPTER V.

COURTSHIP.

Marie could hardly be persuaded to come back into the sitting-room; and
when she did at length come, it was only to sit silent in the corner,
with one hand held behind her, and her eyes fixed steadfastly on the
floor. In vain Abby Rock tried to draw her into the conversation,
telling her how she, Abby, and Mr. De Arthenay had been talking about
her, and how they thought she'd better stay right on where she was for
a spell, till she was all rested up, and knew what she wanted to do.
Mr. De Arthenay would be a friend to her, and no one could be a better
one, as she'd find. But Marie only said that Monsieur was very kind,