avoided than courted the society of "Dark Jacques Gaultier," as he was
called by the boys round his neighbourhood, with the disagreeable
honesty of "small boy" youth.

Jacques was one of those unhappy beings who live with their blinds down
and windows shut, morally speaking; and yet who wonder that they don't
get the bright light and pure air into their minds, which cause some of
their brethren to be such refreshing bits in the way through life. One
of these was Charlie: he went happily through life, carrying sunshine
with him wherever he went: he felt sorry for Jacques, and would
willingly have been friends with him, but in their relative positions
this was impossible. All his overtures were received with decided
rudeness on the part of Jacques, when they received any notice at all,
so Charlie gave up, and took the situation as inevitable. When morning
came Jacques rose very early and went down to the mill. He judged the
early morning to be the best time to see the old man by himself. In this
he was correct, for when he got there he found Pierre was the only one
down. He was standing in the little garden in the front of the house.
After they had exchanged the customary greetings of the place, the old
miller asked Jacques "what had brought him out so early."

The latter told him all he had overheard the preceding evening, and then
he unfolded his plan, for Charlie's destruction, but tried to impress on
the old man that he had better loosen the rope himself.

This Pierre would not listen to; said his courage might fail him; then
pleaded his age, failing strength, and many other things; finally, he
said, he would not do it, adding, "One would think I wanted the girl for
my wife; no, do thy own business unless thou art very anxious to give
Marguerite to this fine soldier. I warrant me that will be the end of