While he was gone, she still held Marie in her arms, and begged her not to tremble so, and told her that her husband was a good man, a kind man, that he had never hurt any one in his life except evil-doers, and had been a good son and a good brother to his own people while they lived.

Then she bade the child look around at her new home, and see how neat and good everything was, and how tastefully Jacques had arranged it all for her.

"Why, he vallies the ground you step on, child!" she cried.

"You don't want to be afraid of him, dear.

You can do anything you're a mind to with him, I tell you.