They might guffaw at Tom's unseemly pleasantries, but they held him in
no high esteem--either for himself or for his position, since word of
the sale of La Closerie had got about.

Then they were a hardy crew and held personal courage and prowess in
high respect. And in this matter there could be no possible doubt as to
where the credit lay.

"Goin' to fight him, Tom?" drawled one, in the patois.

"---- him!" growled Tom, but made no move that way.

And Gard turned and went over to Nance and Bernel, who were sheltering
from the storm in lee of one of the cottages.

If he could have seen it, there was a warmer feeling in her heart for
him than had ever been there before--a novel feeling, too, of respect
and confidence such as she had never entertained towards any other man
in all her life.

For that quick blow had been struck on her behalf, she knew; and it was
vastly strange, and somehow good, to feel that a great strong man was
ready to stand up for her and, if necessary, to fight for her.

She pressed silently on against the gale, with an odd little glow in her
heart, and a feeling as though something new had suddenly come into her
life.

The gale caught them at the Coupée, and the crossing seemed to Gard not