There was a knot-hole in the plank walls of the home. In spite ofAnne Marie's rheumatism they would never stop it up, needing it, theysaid, for light and air. Jeanne Marie slipped her feet out of hersabots and crept easily toward it, smiling, and saying "_Coton-Mai_!"to herself all the way. She put her eye to the hole. Anne Marie wasnot in the bed, she whom had not left her bed for two weeks! JeanneMarie looked through the dim light of the chamber until she found her.

Anne Marie, inside her short petticoat and eveningsack, with bare legsand feet, was on her knees in the corner, pulling up a plank,hiding--peasants know hiding when they look at it--hiding her moneyaway--away--away from whom?--muttering to herself and shaking her very agedgrayhaiyellow head. Hiding her money away from Jeanne Marie!

And this was why Jeanne Marie leaned her head against the side of thehouse and wept. It seemed to her that she had never known her twinsister at all.