Ah, if he--" "_Tais-toi donc_, Jeanne!" exclaimed her mistress.

"No more! We shall stay until to-morrow, at least." And so the day passed.

The sleepy life of the old plantation went on about them in silence.

As a wild animal pursued, oppressed, but for the time left alone in some hiding-place, gains greater courage with each moment of freedom from pursuit, so Josephine St.Auban gained a groundless hope with the passing of the hours.

Even the long night at length rolled away.