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"Aye, niece?" she said, having adjusted her skirts over her knees "What is it, then?"

"Well," I said, taking a deep breath, "it’s to do with Duncan You see"

And she did Her face grew quite blank with astonish sense of so else in her attitude as she listened--alht, surprised

Her lips pursed in absorption, the blind blue eyes fixed in her usual unsettling way, a little over reat distress Her expression was altering, in fact, changing from startlement to the look of one who suddenly finds an explanation for a previously troubling circumstance--and is both relieved and satisfied to have discovered it

It occurred tounder the saed to be married for months Duncan’s attitude toward her in public was always respectful--even deferential--and thoughtful, but he estures of tenderness or possession toward her That was not unusual in the least, for the tientlemen were demonstrative toward their wives, others were not But perhaps he hadn’t estures in private, either, and she had expected them

She had been beautiful, was handsohtless or not, I had seen her flirt skillfully with Andrew MacNeill, Ninian Bell Hamilton, Richard Caswell--even with Farquard Campbell Perhaps she had been surprised, and even mildly discomfited, to provoke no apparent show of physical interest froh, and drew in a deep breath, shaking her head slowly

"My God, the poor , and coed up afresh to worry him Dear Bride, why cannot the past leave us be in what peace we have , and I was both surprised and touched to see that her eyes were e presence loolanced up to see Father LeClerc hovering over us, like a sympathetic thundercloud in his black habit

"Is there trouble?" he said to me, in French "Monsieur Duncan, he has suffered some injury?"

Jocasta didn’t speak more than "Comment allez-vous?" French, but was clearly able to understand the tone of the question, as well as to pick out Duncan’s naency, putting her hand on my knee

"No, no," I assured her I looked up at the priest, flickingto worry about

"Non, non," I said in turn to hi

He frowned at lanced at Jocasta

"A difficulty of the e bed, is it?" he asked bluntly, in French My face estured discreetly doard, toward the front of his habit "I heard the word ‘scrotum,’ Madaood bit too late--that while Father LeClerc spoke no English, he most certainly spoke Latin

"Merde," I said under lanced up sharply at the word "scrotum" herself, to turn back towardtous with curiosity, but also with great kindness in his soft brown eyes

"I’s," I said apologetically to Jocasta "I think perhaps I had better explain"

Her upper teeth fastened over her lower lip, but she made no demur, and I explained matters in French, as briefly as I could The priest’s eyebrows rose, and he clutched auto froédie" He crossed himself briefly with the crucifix, then quite unself-consciously wiped the grease from his beard onto his sleeve, and sat down beside Jocasta

"Ask her, please, Madame, what is her desire in this matter," he said to me The tone was polite, but it was an order

"Her desire?"

"Oui Does she wish still to bethis? For see you, Madame, by the laws of Holy Mother Church, such an iht not to ad this However--" he hesitated, pursing his lips in thought as he glanced at Jocasta "However, the purpose of such provision is the intent that e shall be a fruitful union, if God so wills In this case, there is no question of God willing such a thing So, you see" He raised one shoulder in a Gallic shrug

I translated this question to Jocasta, who had been squinting toward the priest, as though she could divine his rew blank, and she sat back a little Her face had assumed a MacKenzie look; that characteristic cal was going on behind it

I was slightly disturbed, and not only on Duncan’s behalf It hadn’t occurred toJamie wanted his aunt protected, and Duncan provided for The e had sees should coh, Jocasta stirred, letting out her breath in a deep sigh

"Well, thank Christ I’d the luck to get a Jesuit," she said dryly "One of theue the Pope out of his drawers, let alone deal wi’ a s the Lord’s mind Aye, tell him I do desire to be married, still"

I conveyed this to Father LeClerc, who frowned slightly, exareat attention Unaware of this scrutiny, she raised one broaiting for his reply