Going straight up to him, she said: "You seem to be suffering, Monsieur de Buxieres.

What is the matter ?" "A--a foolish accident," replied he, putting on a careless manner.

"I fell and sprained my ankle." The young girl knit her brows with an anxious expression; then, after a moment's hesitation; she said: "Will you let me see your foot?
My mother understood about bone-setting, and I have been told that I inherit her gift of curing sprains." She drew from the basket an empty bottle and a handkerchief.
"Zelie," said she to the little damsel, who was standing astonished at the colloquy, "go quickly down to the stream, and fill this bottle." While she was speaking, Julien, greatly embarrassed, obeyed her suggestions, and uncovered his foot.

Reine, without any prudery or nonsense, raised the wounded limb, and felt around cautiously.
"I think," said she at last, "that the muscles are somewhat injured." Without another word, she tore the handkerchief into narrow strips, and poured the contents of the bottle, which Zelie had filled, slowly over the injure member, holding her hand high for that purpose.

Then, with a soft yet firm touch, she pressed the injured muscles into their places, while Julien bit his lips and did his very utmost to prevent her seeing how much he was suffering.