Part 32 (1/2)

”But it is not all over with Julie Breton,” she insisted.

He turned with brows raised questioningly.

”It has left her--changed. She will never be the same.”

”What do you mean? Dr. Hunter said you would be as strong as ever, by spring.”

”Ah, but I do not speak of my body, Jean Marcel.”

He gazed in perplexity at her wistful face. In a moment his eyes again sought the window.

For a long s.p.a.ce, she was silent. Then a suppressed sob roused him from his bitter thoughts and he heard the strained voice of the girl.

”I know all,” she said.

”What do you mean?”

”Mrs. Gillies, and Dr. Hunter--when I asked him--told me--long ago. We have kept it from Pere Henri. It seems years, for I have been thinking much since then--lying awake, thinking.”

”Julie, what has been worrying you? Don't let what I did cause you pain,” he pleaded, not catching the significance of her words. ”It's all right, Julie. You owe me nothing--I understand.”

”Ah, but you do not understand,” she said, smiling at the man's averted face.

”Julie, I have suffered, but I want you to be happy. Don't think of Jean Marcel.”

”But it is of Jean Marcel of the great heart that I must think--have been thinking, for days and days.” She was sitting erect, tense; her pale face drawn with emotion.

”I tell you I know it all,” she cried, ”how they--_he_, feared to start in the storm--and waited--ordered you to wait. But no wind or snow could hold Jean Marcel, and in spite of them, he brought Dr. Hunter to Whale River--and saved Julie Breton.”

Dumb with surprise at her knowledge of what he thought he and Hunter alone knew--at the scorn in her voice, Marcel listened with pounding heart.