Annette - The Metis Spy

"Since I do not understand the meaning of the word love with very

great clearness,--I think Monsieur has expressed the doubt that I do

understand it--I would not have known where to pin the flower. I

would not have worn it at all. I would, Monsieur, if home, have set

it in a goblet, and taking my stitching, would have gazed upon it all

the day, and prayed my guardian angel to give me some hint as to

where I ought to put it on."

"You little savage, you have eluded me again. Do you remember me

telling you that some day, if you found out for me a couple of good

flocks of turkeys, I would bring you some coppers?"

"I do."

"Well, if you discovered a hundred flocks now I would not give you

one." And then he leaned towards her again as if his lips yearned for

hers. For her part, she took him exactly as she should have done. She

never pouted;--If she had done so, I fancy that there would have been

soon an end of the boyish, sunny raillery.

"Hallo! Petite, we are away, away in the rear. Set your horse going,

for we must keep up with our escort." Away they went over the level

plain, through flowers of every name and dye, the fresh, exquisite

breeze bearing the scent of the myriad petals. After a sharp gallop

over about three miles of plain, they overtook the main body of the

escort, and all rode together through the glorious night, under the

calm, bountiful moon.

"When this journey is ended we shall rest for a few days at my

uncle's, my brave Cree," Stephens said. "Running through the grounds

is a little brook swarming with fish. Will you come fishing with me

there, petite?"

"Oui, avec grand plaisir, Monsieur."

"Of course, you shall fish with a pin-hook. I am not going to see

you catch yourself with a barbed hook, like that which I shall use"

"Oh, Monsieur! Why will you always treat me as a baby!" and there

was the most delicate, yet an utterly indescribable, sort of reproach

in her voice and attitude, as she spoke these words.

"Then it is not a baby by any means," and he looked with undisguised

admiration upon the maiden, with all the mystic grace and the perfect

development of her young womanhood. "It is a woman, a perfect little

woman, a fairer, a sweeter, my own mignonnette, than any girl ever

seen in these plains in all their history."

"Oh, Monsieur is now gone to the other extreme. He is talking

dangerously; for he will make me vain."

"Does the ceaseless wooing of the sweet wild rose by soft winds,

make that blossom vain? or is the moon spoilt because all the summer

night ten thousand streams running under it sing its praises? As

easy, Annette, to make vain the rose or the moon as to turn your head

by telling your perfections."