Where Deep Seas Moan

when evening after evening, people met together at the Veilles, to knit

of longue veille. The spotless wooden table in the middle of the sanded floor was piled high with woollen goods of every kind, which had been knitted by me

s never yet bin so many things for the Christmas Eve market! I

ered closer round the table to inspect the good work and pack it up for transmission to market. Mesdames were comely and ros

s, who queened it openly on these occasions. Even the elderly men, seated on wooden stools in the deep recess of the wide

kering light of the crasset shadowed and then brightened the healthy beauty of the girls and t

ent, yet almost blinding in their gaze of rapture, rested on the face of Dominic Le Mierre who sat on the jonquière in the corner of the hearth. He was alone and appeared to be absorbed in watching the group of story-tellers under the crasset. His sombre handsome face wore an expression of extreme boredom. He

ted House, he had seen her not a few times, and he had rivetted round her a chain which linked her closely to himself. He had exerted the masterful fascination which was his to bring her completely under his power. Love is a stronger motive than even hate. He made Ellenor love him that he might be sure she would keep secre

conflicting, to taunt him with its indestructibility. He certainly could not have told himself why he liked to meet this girl so often on the sly and why he liked to kiss her red lips and make her eyes shine into his. But the fact that he did like the meetings and did look forward to the kisses, was qui

was such a universal flirt, that, hitherto, he had received no special encouragement. To-night, however, he felt inclined to exert the full power of attraction which he was quite capable of appreciating and using. All women, whether they avow i

his eye spoke eloquently of her beauty. Blaisette had never known him in such a compelling mood. Her foolish, weak little head was turned; his gross flattery was nectar to her greedy vanity. He was generally so taciturn, so cold, so a

likewise, she had never yet pictured a Madame Orvillière who would take up the master's time and prevent the stolen meetings that were so dear to her. Now, as she watched Dominic's marked attentions to Blaisette, as she saw him, more than once, lay his hand on hers, she realized the meaning of the scene in the chimney corner. He would marry the rich girl. She turned sick and giddy w

rtier, "you must be mad to go home without them!

nd, Monsieur Le Mierre, he said you were a hard-working girl and would make a good servant, if I'd let you go out. He laughed when he said this, did Monsieur,

Spring. The inmates of Les Casquets Cottage ate their humble Christmas dinner of a small piece of beef and a rough kind of raisin pudding; then Jean and his wife composed thems

ble, wandering thoughts which were forever haunting her-thoughts of Dominic and Blaisette. All at once, a m

own beside her, "on Christmas Day and al

none, and don't want none, M

ct me to believe that of

laisette Simon that's as pretty as a wax doll

nd a lovely colour rose in her pale face. Then, with slow, and as

call Blaisette mine, do you! What a foolish Ellenor to be jealous of her. She's quite diffe

would make a good servant and he thought perhaps you would wish to engage

must speak only to you? And

der and withdrew from his careless embrace. But it was only for a moment.

te! I don't care if, even, I come to be your serv

er her hidden face and li

illing for me to marry Blaisette? Why, you might even let out about what goes on i

" she cried, lo

eward you. I am not even thinking of marriage with Blaisette Simo

n every word he had said to her behind the Haunted House. She was unusually amiable at home, and

en, for there was much to be done in the way of preparing refreshments for the constant string of g

it was dusk, and the lamps were not yet lit, she entered the room suddenly, intent on business. There were only two peopl

tter hatred of Blaisette. At once she turned and fled from the room. It was all very well to speak of his marriage with another girl, when she herself was in his arms. It wa