She went to her bed, made of saplings, against the wall, and from its hiding place under the blankets drew forth tenderly a little ivory Crucifix.

With this in her hands she knelt upon the log floor, and Miki listened to her prayer.

He did not know, but she was asking God to be good to her baby--the little Nanette in the crib.
After that she cuddled the baby up in her arms, and put out the light, and went to bed; and through all the hours of the night Miki made no sound that would waken them.
In the morning, when Nanette opened her eyes, she found Miki with his head resting on the edge of the bed, close to the baby that was nestled against her bosom.
That morning, as she built the fire, something strange and stirring in Nanette's breast made her sing.

Le Beau would be away until dark that night, and she would never dare to tell him what she and the baby and the dog were going to do.

It was her birthday.