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An hour passed quickly, and up the ravine, in the deep gloom of the overhanging rocks, we made our way homeward. "You will not quit the island to-morrow," said Tardif, standing at his door, and scanning the sky with his keen, weather-wise eyes. "I must," I answered; "I must indeed, old fellow. You are no land-lubber, and you will run me over in the morning."
"Are you grieved about it, Tardif?" I asked. "No, no," he answered; "we have always been good friends, you and I, doctor. No, you shall marry her, and I will be happy. I will come to visit you sometimes, and she will call me her good Tardif. That is enough for me." "What are you talking about?" asked Olivia. It was impossible to tell her, or to continue the conversation.
She knew only too well that Tardif was speeding thither as fast as horses could carry him. He had had several hours' start, but there was still a chance of overtaking him. And suppose she overtook him?
"And has she had no letters?" I asked. "Not one," he replied. "She has neither written nor received a single letter." "But how did you come across her?" I inquired. "She did not fall from the skies, I suppose. How was it she came to live in this out-of-the-world place with you?" Tardif smoked his imaginary pipe with great perseverance for some minutes, his face overcast with thought.
We anchored at the fisherman's landing-place below the cliff of the Havre Gosselin, and I climbed readily up the rough ladder which leads to the path. Tardif made his boat secure, and followed me; he passed me, and strode on up the steep track to the summit of the cliff, as if impatient to reach his home. It was then that I gave my first serious thought to the woman who had met with the accident.
Mother Renouf saw it as well as myself. We sat up again together that night, Tardif and I. He would not smoke, lest the scent of the tobacco should get in through the crevices of the door, and lessen the girl's chance of sleep; but he held his pipe between his teeth, taking an imaginary puff now and then, that he might keep himself wide awake. We talked to one another in whispers.
War in Brittany and Normandy Death of La Noue Religious and political persecution in Paris Murder of President Brisson, Larcher, and Tardif The sceptre of France offered to Philip The Duke of Mayenne punishes the murderers of the magistrates Speech of Henry's envoy to the States-General Letter of Queen Elizabeth to Henry Siege of Rouen Farnese leads an army to its relief The king is wounded in a skirmish Siege of Rue by Farnese Henry raises the siege of Rouen Siege of Caudebec Critical position of Farnese and his army Victory of the Duke of Mercoeur in Brittany.
Madelinette was frightened. She knew well why Havel had ridden on ahead without her permission, and shaking hands with the landlord and getting into the coach, she said hastily to her new coachman: "Lose not an instant. Drive hard." They reached the next change by noon, and here they found four horses awaiting them. Tardif, and Havel also, had come and gone.
"I do not like it, doctor," said Tardif: "there's no hope in it. Yet to sleep out yonder at last, on the great plain under the sea, would be no bad thing." "You must sing it for Tardif," added Olivia, with a pretty imperiousness, "and then he will like it." My throat felt dry, and my tongue parched. I could not utter a word in reply.
My eyelids closed languidly when I did not keep them open by an effort; and my head ached, and my brain swam with confused fancies. After some time, and with some difficulty, I comprehended what had happened to me, and recollected that it was already past mid-day, and Mrs. Tardif would be waiting for me. I attempted to stand up, but an acute pain in my foot compelled me to desist.
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