Page:Stories by Foreign Authors (French III).djvu/153

Rh and whither you are going? You will soon, my child, be sixteen hundred leagues away from your mother and your sisters. And for me! all this for me!'

"She hid her head for a moment in the hammock, and I, from above, could see she was weeping; but he from below did not perceive it, and when she uncovered her face it was already brightened by a smile, to enliven and cheer him.

"'In truth we are not very rich just now,' said she, bursting into a laugh; 'see, here is my purse, I have only one single louis. And you!'

"He began also to laugh like a child: 'Faith! I had a crown left, but I gave it to the little boy who carried your trunk.'

"'Oh, well! what difference does that make?' said she, snapping her little white fingers like castanets; 'people are never so merry as when they have nothing; and besides, have I not yet in reserve the two diamond rings that my mother gave me? Those are good everywhere, and for everything, are they not? Whenever you choose we will sell them. And besides, I am sure that that dear old soul, the captain, does not tell us all his good intentions for us, and that he knows very well what is in the letter. I am sure it is a recommendation for us to the Governor of Cayenne.'

"'Perhaps so,' said he, 'who knows?'

"'And then,' added his little wife, 'you are so