"
"God be praised!" murmured she in his ear. "Yes, my HUSBAND! The
blessed Virgin has heard my prayers." And she pressed him in a fond
embrace, while tears of joy flowed from her eyes. "I am indeed
happy!"
The words hardly left her lips when a sudden crash of thunder rolled
over their heads and went pealing down the lake and among the
islands, while a black cloud suddenly eclipsed the moon, shedding
darkness over the landscape, which had just begun to brighten in her
silvery rays.
Amelie was startled, frightened, clinging hard to the breast of
Pierre, as her natural protector. She trembled and shook as the
angry reverberations rolled away in the distant forests. "Oh,
Pierre!" exclaimed she, "what is that? It is as if a dreadful voice
came between us, forbidding our union! But nothing shall ever do
that now, shall it? Oh, my love!"
"Nothing, Amelie. Be comforted," replied he. "It is but a thunder-
storm coming up. It will send Le Gardeur and all our gay companions
quickly back to us, and we shall return home an hour sooner, that is
all.
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