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"Tessa," she said one day, sidling up to that Tessa Bibye who had cast a taunt in her teeth, "know you the charm which that doctress of the Crees gave to Marci Varendree when she sickened for love of that half-breed, Tohi Stannard?" "Oho!" cried Tessa gleefully, "a man again! Who lacks one now, Francette?"
"'Tis the gay Nor'wester with his golden curls," whispered Tessa Bibye sympathetically. "The Nor'wester? 'Tis little you know, truly, Tessa," said the young wife of old Corlier. "What maid in her senses would look twice at yonder be-laced dandy when a man like Anders McElroy stood near?"
"Can they not see, these fool men, that the woman is a venturess, playing with all?" "You lie, Tessa Bibye!" Micene Bordoux had passed unnoticed. Now she turned her accusing glance on the loose-tongued girl. "Because you are so small of soul yourself, are your eyes blinded to the greater heights? Ma'amselle is lost in the clouds above you."
Whereat there was a laugh and crinkling of pretty dark eyes at the little maid's expense, but she sprang to her feet and faced her mates in anger. "Begone, you Tessa Bibye!" she cried hotly; "'tis little you know beyond the thought of a man truly, and that because you have lacked one from the cradle!" Tessa flushed and drew away, vanquished.
It is of a drollness, mes cheries," laughed Tessa Bibye one day, stopping at the cabin by the south wall; "how Francette does but sit in the shade and nurse that half-dead wolf. Is it by chance because of the owner, or that hand which carried it here, Francette? Look for the man behind Francette's devotion ever!"
Maren held out her hand and Laroux grasped it in a clasp of faith. "See!" cried Tessa Bibye, peeping eagerly from among the women, "she holds hands with that blackhaired man of her people who spurs the rest. One man or another, as Francette says, little cat! all are fish who come to Ma'amselle's net! The factor, or the cavalier, or a common voyageur.
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