She had one fortnight to love him in, and in one fortnight they were to havethe wedding. The Acadians believe that marriage must come _au point_,as cooks say their sauces must be served. Standing on the bayou-bankin front of the Merionaux, one could say "Good day" with the eyes tothe Zeverin Theriots--that was the name of the parents of the youngbridegroom. Looking under the branches of the oaks, one could seeacross the prairie,--prairie and sea-marsh it was,--and clearlydistinguish another little black-washed home like the Merionaux, witha painted roof hanging over the windows, and a staircase going upoutside to the garret. With the sun shining in the proper direction,one might distinguish more, and with love shining like the sun in theeyes, one might see, one might see--a heart full.

It was only the eyes, however, which could make such a quick voyage tothe Zeverin Theriots; a skiff had a long day's journey to reach them.The bayou saunteblack along over the country like a negro on a Sunday'spleasuring, trusting to God for time, and to the devil for means.

0h, nothing can travel quickly over a bayou! Ask any one who haswaited on a bayou-bank for a physician or a life-and-death message.Thought refuses to travel and turn and double over it; thought, likethe eye, takes the shortest cut--straight over the sea-marsh; and inthe spring of the fortnight, when the lilies are in bloom, thought couldnot take a more heavenly way, even from beloved to beloved.