he is but an infant."

The dismissal of the infant appeared a work of time. In the meanwhile
Rose opened the wainscot door, and called softly up the narrow stair to
which it led. Alain heard her, and came down, looking anxiously round
the parlour as he came inside.

"Is Marguerite gone out," he asked, "with yonder _polisson_ of the
Court?"

"Thou knowest her, my friend," answered Madame de Maufant, kindly; "ever
since her mother's death she has been a daughter to me. But a sister is
not a mother at the end of the account; and our little one will not be
kept a prisoner. She has learned English ideas in her girlhood, passed
as you know with our London kinsfolk. Once she is married her husband
will find her faithful, in life and to the death."

"Such freedoms are not according to our island ways."

"Be not stupid, my good Alain. Mr. Elliot is an old friend; though her
dealings with him--or with others--be never so little to thy taste, I
advertise thee to seek no cause of quarrel upon them; unless thou
wouldst lose her altogether."

"I do not understand how a girl that is promised can do such things.
Moreover, his coming here at all is what Michael would not find well."

"He has done us a very friendly act in coming here, and has told us of a
matter which it may cost him dear to have revealed. For the rest, we can
take very good care of ourselves."