A few words of cheerful good-bye to her father--she carried the spring in her face and the summer of gaiety in her face however sore her heart was--and they were once more upon the road.
Their first stage was twenty-five miles, and it led through the ravine where Parpon and his comrades had once sought to frighten George Fournel.

As they passed the place Madelinette shuddered, and she remembered Fournel's cynical face as he left the house three months ago.

She felt that it would not easily soften to mercy or look upon her trouble with a human eye, if once the will were in his hands.

It was a silent journey, but Madame Marie asked no questions, and there was comfort in her unspoken sympathy.
Five hours, and at midnight they arrived at the end of the first stage of their journey, at the village tavern of St.Stanislaus.Here Madame Marie urged Madelinette to stay and sleep, but this she refused to do, if horses could be got to go forward.

The sight of two gold pieces made the thing possible in the landlord's eyes, and Madame Marie urged no more, but found some refreshment, of which she gently insisted that Madelinette should partake.