CHAPTER XV.
The village had no thought or care for anything except the Rebellion and news of it; and for several days Ferrol and Christine lived their new life unobserved by the people of the village, even by the household of Manor Casimbault.
It almost seemed that Ferrol's prophecy regarding himself was coming true, for his cheek took on a heightened colour, his step a greater elasticity, and he flung his shoulders out with a little of the old military swagger: cheerful, forgetful of all the world, and buoyant in what he thought to be his new-found health and permanent happiness.
Vague reports came to the village concerning the Rebellion.

There were not a dozen people in the village who espoused the British cause; and these few were silent.

For the moment the Lavilettes were popular.
Nicolas had made for them a sort of grand coup.

He had for the moment redeemed the snobbishness of two generations.
After his secret marriage, Ferrol was not seen in the village for some days, and his presence and nationality were almost forgotten by the people: they only thought of what was actively before their eyes.

On the fifth day after his marriage, which was Saturday, he walked down to the village, attracted by shouting and unusual excitement.