But no amount of anxious staring across empty waters will bring back a boat that is not there.

The boat was gone and Paul Martel with it, and neither was seen again in Sercq.
For many months Rachel Carre lived in instant fear of his unexpectedly turning up again.

But he never came, and in time her mind found rest.

The peace and aloofness of Belfontaine appealed to her, and at her father's urgent desire she stayed on there, and gave herself wholly to the care of the house and the training of her boy.

The name of Martel, with its unpleasant memories, was quietly dropped, and in time came to be almost forgotten.