André was very busy, and truth to tell, rather downhearted. He had been buoyant; it was his nature. But as he faced the actual now, and the careless demeanor of Renée, he felt like one roused from a dream and swung to the opposite verge. No, she did not care for him. Yet she had been so sweet at times! He was in and out. Mère Lunde was full of regrets. She was old and might never see him again. Renée said carelessly, "We shall all miss you. I don't know what uncle would do if he did not have M'sieu Marchand."
She and Madame Marchand had gone to the Renauds', as was proper. Wawataysee was charmed with the little Angelique, and they found Madame Gardepier quite different from the women of the town, except some of the higher ladies in the government circles, though she was very sweet and gracious.
Renée's heart swelled with a great jealousy. Barbe was beautiful and grand, she could not deny it. Her voice had a lingering cadence, like a rivulet in some forest depth, as if she might coax the heart out of one. Renée steeled hers in a sort of desperation. Surely she was distanced. She could not contend against these charms, any more than she could deny them. All her life was suddenly set in the shade.
So she could not feel much sorrow for André's going away; her own filled all her heart. He might have thought her quiet a sign of it, but his eyes seemed to have been curiously opened.
"You will give me good wishes?" he said the last evening he came. "And--will you not say that you shall miss me?"
"Of course, I shall miss you," but the dreariness in the tone was not for him. "I shall be so much alone."
"M. Denys will be here--" He was a little puzzled.
"Renée," impetuously, "you have some sorrow. You are not like yourself. What has happened?"
"Yes, I have some sorrow in my heart. I cannot tell any one," and the red lips quivered.
"And you were so gay a little while ago. Oh, my darling--" His full heart overflowed in his face.
She held up her hand in entreaty. "Don't," she said in a half-irritated way. "I shall never be any one's darling again. And," in something of her old imperious tone, "if I cannot have the love I want I will not have any!"
He looked at her in amaze. Did she love some one else, then? He was suddenly stunned. That had never entered his thoughts.