A LITTLE GIRL IN OLD QUEBEC
By AMANDA M. DOUGLAS
A. L. BURT COMPANY PUBLISHERS NEW YORK
Copyright, 1906 BY DODD, MEAD & COMPANY
CONTENTS
I. A WILD ROSE
II. THE JOY OF FRIENDSHIP
III. SUMMER TIME
IV. A HUSBAND
V. CHANGING ABOUT
VI. FINDING AMUSEMENTS
VII. JOURNEYING TO A FAR COUNTRY
VIII. WHAT ROSE DID NOT LIKE
IX. ABOUT MARRIAGES
X. MILADI AND M. DESTOURNIER
XI. A FEAST OF SUMMER
XII. A LOVER IN EARNEST
XIII. FROM A GIRL'S HEART
XIV. A WAY OVER THORNS
XV. HELD IN AN ENEMY'S GRASP
XVI. A LOVER OF THE WILDERNESS
XVII. THE PASSING OF OLD QUEBEC
A LITTLE GIRL IN OLD QUEBEC
CHAPTER I
A WILD ROSE
Ralph Destournier went gayly along, whistling a merry French song that was nearly all chorus, climbing, slipping, springing, wondering in his heart as many a man did then what had induced Samuel de Champlain to dream out a city on this craggy, rocky spot. Yet its wildness had an impressive grandeur. Above the island of Orleans the channel narrowed, and there were the lovely green heights of what was to be Point Levis, more attractive, he thought, than these frowning cliffs. The angle between the St. Charles and St. Lawrence gave an impregnable site for a fortress, and Champlain was a born soldier with a quick eye to seize on the possibility of defence.
On the space between the cliffs and the water a few wooden buildings, rough hewn, marked the site of the lower town. A wall had been erected, finished with a gallery, loopholed for musketry, and within this were the beginnings of a town that was to be famous for heroic deeds, for men of high courage, for quaintness that perpetuates old stories which are perfect romances yet to-day after the lapse of three centuries.
There was a storehouse quite well fortified, there was a courtyard with some fine walnut trees, and a few gardens stretching out with pleasant greenery, while doves were flying about in wide circles, a reminder of home. Ralph Destournier had a spirit of adventure and Champlain was a great hero to him. Coming partly of Huguenot stock he had fewer chances at home, and he believed there was more liberty in the new world, a better outlook for a restless, eager mind.
He went on climbing over the sun-baked cliffs, while here and there in a depression where rain could linger there were patches of verdure, trees that somehow maintained a footing. How unlike the level old seaport town where he had passed a good part of his youth, considered his grandfather's heir, when in the turn of fortune's wheel the sturdy old Huguenot had been killed in battle and his estates confiscated.
Something stirred up above him, not any small animal either. It crackled the bushes and moved about with a certain agility. Could it be a deer? He raised his gun.
Table of contents (by pages)
- 1: A Little Girl in Old Quebec by Douglas
- 2: De Champlain carries his in his pocket
- 3: Pontgrave and Champlain among them
- 4: Convert this young man into an emigrant
- 5: Ralph Destournier had half a mind to accompany him
- 6: Innocent as the doves themselves
- 7: Mere Dubray glanced at her sharply
- 8: The kindly Mere repeated her dose
- 9: The Sieur de Champlain has great plans
- 10: Destournier flushed unconsciously
- 11: Madame Giffard thanked her and sipped it delicately
- 12: Jean Arlac went up to the fur country
- 13: Madame Giffard pressed a kiss upon the white forehead
- 14: Rather they resemble the barbarians of the north
- 15: Mere Dubray dressed half a dozen birds in a trice
- 16: Then she took the raspberry juice
- 17: That she had dreamed of saving for Antoine
- 18: At first it frightened the child
- 19: But I should have liked Wanamee better
- 20: Rescued and saved from torture by the Sieur himself
- 21: She would have died from exhaustion in the broiling sun
- 22: Surely you do not love Madame Dubray
- 23: Lalotte held her head higher than ever
- 24: And I said to myself I will bring Lalotte back with me
- 25: And Antoine brought his fist heavily down on the table
- 26: Destournier has taken a great interest in her
- 27: He told his story and the plans of the Dubrays
- 28: Mere Dubray seems to have sown nothing in it
- 29: Wanamee came to sit with the child
- 30: The Sieur was still engrossed with his papers
- 31: And you will not tell even miladi
- 32: Giffard laughed he often did at her quaint questions
- 33: Giffard took the Sieur's arm and drew him a trifle aside
- 34: And Madame Dubray whipped him well
- 35: So the children sought Wanamee
- 36: The Dubrays will never come back
- 37: But Mere Dubray was not your mother
- 38: The argument rather floored Pani
- 39: And miladi looked as bewitching in her deerskin suit
- 40: He had brought with him the young Indian Savignon
- 41: Destournier had some schemes as well
- 42: So again the Sieur de Champlain set sail for France
- 43: Pere Dolbeau was the officiating priest
- 44: Destournier had been successful with his grant
- 45: Destournier left no stone unturned to discover her parentage
- 46: Destournier roused at the first alarm
- 47: Destournier went from one to another
- 48: Leaving one of their own wounded that Roleau had finished
- 49: Giffard were in a degree military
- 50: Giffard's grave and say over the spells Madawando taught me
- 51: Laurent thought your judgment excellent
- 52: Madame Giffard was full thirty
- 53: What incantation was she using
- 54: M'sieu Destournier parted the hemlock branches
- 55: Destournier flushed unconsciously
- 56: And trimmed with fur and velvet
- 57: Then breakfast and the chapel for another hour
- 58: Will you take me to see Marie Gaudrion
- 59: Boulle glanced from one to the other
- 60: Madame de Champlain was intensely religious
- 61: Destournier will not let you go
- 62: The Governor had really encouraged the mixed marriages
- 63: Jules is getting his house ready
- 64: And they rowed down in the canoes to the Gaudrions
- 65: They did understand what devotion was
- 66: And Wanamee will have the room between
- 67: He was busy and miladi was exigent
- 68: Wanamee was sore troubled by her reticence
- 69: Miladi told of the scene to her lover daintily
- 70: Madame de Champlain was a devote
- 71: Miladi was housed snug and warm
- 72: She will never marry Pierre Gaudrion
- 73: Fit only for peasants and Indian women
- 74: Why miladi was captious and changeful
- 75: And miladi will be very happy
- 76: Eustache Boulle asked his sister
- 77: One afternoon Rose had espied a branch of purple plums
- 78: I saw you on the boat that conveyed Madame de Champlain
- 79: With an abruptness that was almost anger
- 80: I want the Sieur to have his way
- 81: Miladi sat out on the gallery in her chair
- 82: Miladi was delighted with hers
- 83: Destournier for his foster daughter
- 84: Destournier left her with the young lover
- 85: A fish hawk was chasing a robin
- 86: Ralph Destournier knew he would make a good husband
- 87: Wanamee and Mawha were in a discussion
- 88: Boulle goes to Tadoussac to morrow
- 89: Boulle chooses to wait until the Sieur returns
- 90: Boulle yesterday that I could not marry him
- 91: Boulle took a step forward and grasped her hand
- 92: There was Noko sitting just outside her tent
- 93: Noko broiled some deer steak on the coals
- 94: Madame Destournier is not well
- 95: Pani was asleep on a soft couch of moss
- 96: If Rose had loved Eustache Boulle
- 97: She often ran up to the old home for a word with Wanamee
- 98: Eustache Boulle had not been unworthy
- 99: Destournier looked thin and careworn
- 100: So if you will inform the Heberts I have seen Monsieur
- 101: Wanamee came out with a fervent welcome
- 102: Hebert sent some extracts of herbs
- 103: Destournier is not of that kind
- 104: Miladi had been in this state so long
- 105: The English have burned and pillaged Cape Tourmente
- 106: No heart was heavier than that of the Sieur de Champlain
- 107: Savignon consented to accompany them
- 108: Could she spend years waiting on miladi
- 109: He knew many things miladi had grudged her
- 110: Miladi took the parting tranquilly
- 111: Yet she felt infinitely sorry for miladi
- 112: Miladi was sobbing as if her heart would break
- 113: Then Wanamee was less superstitious than most of her race
- 114: Savignon will be an excellent guide
- 115: Savignon did not listen for any girlish secrets
- 116: Savignon guessed it was not cheering
- 117: Cadotte and Savignon took a survey
- 118: Savignon buried his face in his hands
- 119: In a tone of desperate anguish
- 120: But De Loie thinks it a crazy step
- 121: De Loie started out on the path he had come
- 122: And miladi Wanamee will tell you
- 123: Wanamee took Rose under her protection
- 124: How lovely she was in her pleading
- 125: Men often married Indian women
- 126: Unless Savignon had come before the time
- 127: Savignon had joined a party of explorers
- 128: Ralph Destournier was a Frenchman at heart
- 129: Now you belong to no one but me
- 130: In the autumn Champlain commenced the first parochial church
- 131: Robert Destournier would exclaim
- 132: Champlain will always be a living memory