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She put out one hand across the table. Marcel took it in both of his own. He did not kiss it. He lifted it up in front of his face. "I swear to you, Nataline, you shall be to me as the Blessed Virgin herself." The next day they put the light in order, and the following night they kindled it.
They still feared another attack from the mainland, and thought it needful that one of them should be on guard all the time, though the machine itself was working beautifully and needed little watching. Nataline took the night duty; it was her own choice; she loved the charge of the lamp. Marcel was on duty through the day.
Then she came back to her chair, pushed her cup aside, rested both elbows on the table and her chin in her hands, and looked Marcel square in the face with her clear brown eyes. "My friend," she said, "are you an honest man, un brave garcon?" For an instant he could say nothing. He was so puzzled. "Why yes, Nataline," he answered, "yes, surely I hope."
The door will come down, I tell you, like a sheet of paper. But wait till I give the word, then swing hard. One two " "Stop!" cried Nataline, throwing open the little window. "If you dare to touch that door, I shoot." She thrust out the barrel of the rifle, and Marcel's shot-gun appeared beside it. The old rifle was not loaded, but who knew that? Besides, both barrels of the shot-gun were full.
He would do as much of the labour as he could, but the wife and the two older girls must help him. Nataline could go to bed. At this Nataline's short upper lip trembled. She rubbed her eyes with the sleeve of her dress, and began to weep silently. "What is the matter with you?" said her mother, "bad child, have you fear to sleep alone? A big girl like you!"
So what wonder is it that my father grew up with weak places and holes in his conscience? But my mother, Nataline Fortin ah, m'sieu', she was a straight soul, for sure clean white, like a wild swan! I suppose she was not a saint. She was too fond of singing and dancing for that. But she was a good woman, and nothing could make her happy that came from the misery of another person.
But if the light is out, the boat may be lost. That would be the punishment for my sin. No, MON PERE, we must trust God. He will keep the people. I will keep the light." The priest looked at her long and steadily. A glow came into his face. He put his hand on her shoulder. "You shall follow your conscience," he said quietly. "Peace be with you, Nataline." That evening just at dark Marcel came.
And she herself, that brave girl who said that the light was her "law of God," and who kept it, though it nearly broke her heart Nataline is still guardian of the island and its flashing beacon of safety.
When morning came the wind was still blowing fitfully off shore, but the snow had almost ceased. Nataline stopped the clockwork, and was just climbing up into the lantern to put out the lamp, when Marcel's voice hailed her. "Come down, Nataline, come down quick. Make haste!"
It went without saying that Nataline was to be the keeper of the light, at least until the supply-boat came down again in the spring and orders arrived from the Government in Quebec. Why not? She was a woman, it is true. But if a woman can do a thing as well as a man, why should she not do it? Besides, Nataline could do this particular thing much better than any man on the Point.
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