The rough sea to-day
made the poor little fellow ill, bringing on a horrible coughing
attack. The poor woman was too weak to hold him during his
convulsions, and he rolled away from her, and she was so frightened
when he did not move, that she was going to throw herself overboard. I
rushed with the other passengers to stop her, we calmed her finally,
and after some little time I was able to resuscitate the child, who
had gone off in a fit."
The poor woman wept as he talked, and showed a banknote he had slipped
into her hand when he said good-bye.
"You must put that away. You will need it," said the young Count,
smiling.
"Where do you live?" enquired Germaine.
"At Pont-Herlin."
"That is some distance away?"
The old woman shook her head and feebly shrugged her thin shoulders.
"I must go there."
"Well, Mme. Borderie, we will take you there."
Without further parley, Albert picked the old woman up lightly and set
her down in the brake. The baby was deposited on her knees where he
promptly fell asleep. The Count's little trunk found place beside the
farmer on the front seat. A basket of osier, which the young man had
handled very carefully, was also placed in the brake, and then they
set off for Pont-Herlin.
They were growing anxious at the farm of Penhouet, at the non-appearance
of M. and Mme. Darbois, Pont-Herlin lies some way from the Point des
Poulains and the roads are not in very good condition, especially for
a two horse brake.
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