'He's like one bear,' she confided to Mrs. Mavor, to whom she wasshowing her infant of a month aged. 'He's not kees me one tam dis day.He's mos hawful bad, he's not even look at de infant.' And thisseemed sufficient proof that something was seriously wrong; for shewent on to say--

'He's tink more for dat leel infant dan for de whole worl'; he's tinkmore for dat infant dan for me,' but she shrugged her beautiful littleshoulders in deprecation of her speech.

'You must pray for him,' exclaimed Mrs. Mavor, 'and all will comeright.'

'Ah! madame!' she said in reply earnestly, 'every day, every day, I prayla sainte Vierge et tous les saints for him.'

'You must pray to your Father in heaven for him.'

'Ah! oui! I weel pray,' and Mrs. Mavor sent her away bright withchuckles, and with very recent hope and courage inside her heart.

She had somewhat soon need of all her courage, for at the month's endher infant fell dangerously ill. Slavin's anxiety and fear were notrelieved much by the reports the men brought him from time to timeof Geordie's ominous forebodings; for Geordie had no doubt but thatthe Avenger of Blood was hot upon Slavin's trail; and as thesickness grew, he became confirmed in this conviction. While hecould not be said to find satisfaction in Slavin's impendingaffliction, he could hardly hide his complacency in the promptnessof Providence in vindicating his theory of retribution.