He examined her more closely, noticed her deep-set eyes, her cheeks, whiter than usual.
"Why, what is the matter, Reine ?" he inquired; "you are not yourself; do you not feel well ?" "Yes, and no.

I have passed a bad night, thinking over matters that are troubling me, and I think that has produced some fever." "What matters?
Any that concern us ?" "Yes;" replied she, laconically.
Claudet opened his eyes.

The young girl's continued gravity began to alarm him; but, seeing that she walked quickly forward, with an absent air, her face lowered, her brows bent, her mouth compressed, he lost courage and refrained from asking her any questions.

They walked on thus in silence, until they came to the open level covered with juniper-bushes, from which solitary place, surrounded by hawthorn hedges, they could trace the narrow defile leading to Vivey, and the faint mist beyond.
"Let us stop here," said Reine, seating herself on a flat, mossy stone, "we can talk here without fear of being disturbed." "No fear of that," remarked Claudet, with a forced smile, "with the exception of the shepherd of Vivey, who comes here sometimes with his cattle, we shall not see many passers-by.

It must be a secret that you have to tell me, Reine ?" he added.
"No;" she returned, "but I foresee that my words will give you pain, my poor Claudet, and I prefer you should hear them without being annoyed by the farm-people passing to and fro." "Explain yourself!" he exclaimed, impetuously.