She sang not loudly, but very sweetly; carelessly, too, and as if to herself; now and then repeating a line twice or maybe thrice; pleased with the sweet melancholy of the notes, but not thinking overmuch of the meaning of the words.

They died upon her lips when Hugon rose from a lair of reeds and called to her to stop.

"Come to the shore, ma'm'selle!" he cried.

"See, I have brought you a ribbon from the town.

Behold!" and he fluttered a crimson streamer.
Audrey caught her breath; then gazed, reassured, at the five yards of water between her and the bank.