"But, oh! he looks as if he were dead! Does he breathe? Let us take him away!"
"If we can carry him," quoth Father Paul. But there was no doubt about the matter. Gerard was a light weight for the gigantic strength of the good old man, who took him in his arms and bore him away to his own home.
"I told you he would come back, my daughter; and, because you did not lose hope he has come back. I daresay he will be better for the experience."
"But, Father Paul ———"
"No, my daughter. His sufferings will shrive him better than I could."
Gerard opened his eyes and gazed about him, at first wondering. Then he started and turned pale.
"Eve!" he ejaculated; but he looked up again, and added: "No! Stella—my Stella!"
"Is he delirious, Father Paul?""
"Not half so much so as he was a week ago!" responded the old man, abruptly.
Later on, Gerard opened his eyes again.
