hidden by the child's body, but her voice, deep-throated and rich with
sliding minor tones, mingled with the high shrillness of the little
one's shrieks.

"Hold fast, ma cherie," came its laughing caution, smothered by the
flying folds of the baby's little cotton shift." See! The ship dips so,
in the ocean,--and so,--and so!"

The strong arms, bare and brown and muscular, swayed backward, throwing
up the milky whiteness of the little throat, the tiny feet flew
heavenward and the baby's wee heart choked it, as witness the screams
of irrepressible joy. As the child swayed back there came into view the
face of Maren Le Moyne, flushed all over its rare darkness, glowing
with tenderness, its great beauty transfigured divinely. The black
braids, wrapped smoothly round her head, shone in the evening sun, and
the faded garment, plain and uncompromising, but served to heighten the
effect of her physical perfection.

Alfred de Courtenay stopped in his tracks, the smile fixed on his face,
and drank in the pretty scene like one starved.

So long he looked that McElroy turned toward him and only then did he
shift his glance, remembering himself, while a blush suffused his
rather delicate features.

"Pardon!" he murmured; "truly do I forget myself, M'sieu; but not for
a twelvemonth have I seen aught to match this moment. I pray you, of
what station of life is the glorious young Madonna before you;--wife or
widow or maid? By Saint Agnes, never have I beheld such beauty!"