I'll manage her. She will be ready to jump out of the
window into the next boat that comes along."
"We cannot leave her, Peggy, and we cannot leave you. I am responsible
to your father for your safety. I will put you and my family into the
boat, and stay with her myself."
"Angelique will not leave me!" cried the little voice among the screens.
"Are you ready to lower them?" called Colonel Menard.
Captain Saucier went again to the window, his wife and daughter and
Peggy with him.
"I could not leave her," said Angelique to Peggy. They stood behind the
father and mother, who told their trouble across the sill.
"That spoiled old woman needs a good shaking," declared Peggy.
"Poor little tante-gra'mere. It is a dreadful thing, Peggy, to be a
child when you are too old for discipline."
"Give my compliments to madame, and coax her," urged Colonel Menard.
"Tell her, if she will let herself be lowered to me, I will pledge my
life for her safety."
The two children stood huddled together, waiting, large-eyed and silent,
while their elders kneeled around the immovable invalid.
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