And he was saying to her:

"Marie, you know, my dear one--

'Il y a longtemps que je t'aime.'

Yes, for years. My love for you is deep as that great river, and
stronger, mightier." And the girl had answered, looking at him with her
great brown eyes full of unutterable tenderness and faith:

"Yes, Noël, I believe you will never change;" and their voices joined in
the refrain of that old boat-song, awaking the echoes:

"Il y a longtemps que je t'aime,
Jamais je ne t'oublierai."

"Mr. McAllister, how ill you look," said Elsie Severn, coming towards
him, and noticing his weary, abstracted expression.

"Yes, that's just what I was saying," put in the irrepressible Jack. "I
think he'd better go home."

"How rude you are!" said his sister. "Come, Mr. McAllister, come into the
house, and I will give you a cup of tea. That will do you good, and then
I will introduce you to Mademoiselle Laurentia."

"Oh! Miss Elsie, there's nothing the matter with me. I should like to be
introduced to Mademoiselle Laurentia now."