I felt that in her own heart she must already know what action I would choose, and the final moment would prove sufficient test for her evident determination.

Reassured here, my thoughts turned to De Croix; but that was useless.

I could send no message to him; he was no longer in especial peril, and perhaps would not willingly desert his newly found wife even to escape the savages.
Nay,--it was to be Toinette and I, now and forever.
I do not clearly remember at this day what it was we spoke about in the brief whispering that passed between us while we waited there.

Neither of us felt like voicing our real thoughts, and so we but dissembled, making commonplaces fill the gaps between our silences.

The night found us undisturbed, and it shut down so darkly within the narrow confines of the lodge that I lost all trace of her presence, but for an occasional movement or the sound of her low voice.