made no doubt the girl was turning it over in her mind, and making
ready a real pretty answer for Jacques when he called the next day.

Yes, Marie was turning it over in her mind, but not just in the way her
good hostess supposed. Only one thought came to her, but that thought
filled her whole mind; she must get away,--away at once from this
place, from the stern man with the evil eye, who wanted to take her and
kill her slowly, that he might have the pleasure of seeing her die.
Ah, she knew, Marie! had she not seen wicked people before? But she
would not tell Abiroc, for it would only grieve her, and she would
talk, talk, and Marie wanted no talking. She only wanted to get away,
out into the open fields once more, where nobody would look at her or
want to marry her, and where roads might be found leading away to
golden cities, full of children who liked to hear play the violin, and
who danced when one played it well.

Early next morning, while Abby was out milking the cows, Marie stole
away. She put on her little blue gown again; ah! how old and faded it
looked beside the fresh, pretty-prints that Abby would always have her
wear! But it was her own, and when she had it on, and the old
handkerchief tied under her chin once more, and Madame in her box,
ready to go with her the world over, why, then she felt that she was
Marie once more; that this had all been a mistake, this sojourn among
the strange, kind people who spoke so loud and through such long noses;
that now her life was to begin, as she had really meant it to begin
when she ran away from Le Boss and his hateful tyranny.

Out she slipped, in the sweet, fresh morning. No-one saw her go, for
the village was a busy place at all times, and at this early hour every
man and woman was busy in barn or kitchen. At one house a child