"I was a prisoner," answered d.i.c.k, speaking for himself. "I had escaped and when I knew that my sister was in the hands of you fellows I waited to take her away."

And d.i.c.k awaited the effect of his bold declaration anxiously for he was uneasy for his sister.

"I don"t know what to do with you," said the provost again.

"Let me go with d.i.c.k," pleaded Jeanne eagerly. "He is wounded as you see, sir, and needs care and attention. Please let me go with him. I won"t be a bit of trouble."

"I don"t know but that that will be the best way out of the difficulty,"

remarked the officer musingly. "At least until I can investigate further.

What was the name of your uncle?"

"Vance, sir. Benjamin Vance.".

"Benjamin Vance!" exclaimed the officer in amazement. "He is well-known in Vicksburg. Why, he and his wife are here now visiting relatives. I will send for him at once."

"What!" cried Jeanne. "Uncle Ben here?"

"Right here," responded the other. "Orderly, will you send word to the La Chaise manor that I would like Mr. Vance to come here?"

The Orderly saluted and left the room. The provost turned his attention to other matters while d.i.c.k and Jeanne waited with beating hearts the return of the man.

In about an hour"s time the Orderly returned and with him came the well-known form of Mr. Vance. Behind him, her silken skirts rustling, her face wreathed in smiles, her manner full of smirks and graces, walked Madame Vance.

CHAPTER XXV

MADAME AGAIN

"You dear child," cried Madame embracing Jeanne rapturously. "You cannot imagine how desolate I have been at losing you. I was frantic when I learned you were left behind. We went back for you, but you had gone. Ma foi! You should have waited for our return."

"Your story being so amiably verified," said the provost beaming upon the girl, "I am happy to say there is no reason why you should not return to your relatives. I am charmed to have a.s.sisted in reuniting you to your honored family."

"We will never forget it," said the lady sweetly. "If we are ever so fortunate as to have the opportunity to repay the obligation, rest a.s.sured that we will gladly use it. My sweet child, is this your brother? The Orderly spoke of him as we came down."

"Yes," said Jeanne hesitatingly. She was not at all pleased at the turn affairs had taken, and did not relish the idea of being once more in the hands of Madame. "Yes, this is d.i.c.k, Uncle Ben. You know that he bears your name also: Richard Benjamin Vance."

She drew near d.i.c.k as she spoke, standing between Madame and her brother, and addressing herself to her uncle only.

"Richard, I am glad to see you," said Mr. Vance, seizing the boy"s hand and speaking so heartily that d.i.c.k was bewildered. "A prisoner, they tell me. Come! this won"t do. We must have you with us for Clarisse to take care of. She is a fine nurse!"

"I do not want to go," said d.i.c.k weakly. The long wait was beginning to tell upon him. "After the way that my sister has been treated I prefer to trust to the mercy of my enemies than to receive any benefits from you."

"My dear boy, has the little one been speaking of our differences? There were some, I believe. She is headstrong and self-willed, but what would you? I desire to admonish her for disobedience as a mother might, and she grieves me by thinking that I do not love her, but I adore her! You shall both come to us, and you shall see for yourself."

"Yes," said Mr. Vance after a low conversation with the provost. "I have arranged with the officer here that you shall come with us to be taken care of. When you are well, then you must return to him. Orderly, can you get some one to a.s.sist me in lifting my nephew to the carriage?"

So in spite of themselves the brother and sister were placed in charge of their uncle and his wife. The carriage bowled rapidly over the rough streets and at last stopped before a large residence on the summit of one of the hills.

The building was long and low roofed, built after the Southern fashion with wide halls and broad galleries running the entire length of the house. It looked very inviting even to Jeanne who hovered protectingly over her brother.

"She shan"t misuse d.i.c.k," she declared, over and over again. "She shan"t harm him."

d.i.c.k was carried carefully into a large room and placed in a clean white bed. A bright fire blazed upon the hearth and its heat was very welcome after the ride in the chill November air.

The boy, exhausted from his suffering and weak from loss of blood, fainted as they placed him on the couch and Mr. Vance hurriedly summoned a physician. Jeanne found herself pushed to one side while Mr. and Madame Vance worked over the unconscious lad, but when she saw that their ministrations were for his benefit she was content that it should be so.

The most unremitting attention and constant care were what the boy required declared the physician when he had made an examination. The long ride in the rough car and exposure to chill, rendered the best of nursing imperative.

"If he does not have it he will die," he said. "Or if his wound breaks out afresh it will be fatal."

"He shall not die," cried Madame, with an adorable air of concern. "I will care for him myself, doctor. He shall have the best of care."

"I do not doubt it, Madame, with you for his attendant," said the physician, gallantly. "I leave him in good hands."

Jeanne saw with grat.i.tude that Madame Vance did really give the best of care to her brother, and she gladly forgave the treatment to which she had been subjected. Occasionally she even forgot her intention of calling her aunt "Aunt Clarisse," and the old "Cherie," came to her lips.

"Ole missus done got huh claws on yer ergain," s...o...b..ll said to Jeanne one morning. The negro girl had been enthusiastic in her greetings. "I wuz moughty sorry ter see yer k.u.m back ter huh ergain."

"I could not help it, s...o...b..ll. I know that she does not like me any better than she used to, but she is certainly kind to d.i.c.k and he needs that now. Even mother could not nurse him more tenderly."

"She done got sum crotchet in huh haid," grumbled s...o...b..ll. "Done yer be tuk in, lill" missy. She up ter sumthing."

The girl"s words filled Jeanne with alarm. She had sometimes had the same thought, but when she saw Madame"s devotion to her brother, she dismissed the idea from her mind.

One day she sat by d.i.c.k"s bedside alone. Madame had lain down for a little rest, although the boy was not yet out of danger.

"Jeanne," said the weak voice of her brother presently.

"Yes, d.i.c.k," and the girl hastened to his side. "What is it?"

"I wonder and wonder," said the boy, in a far away voice, "why you told me what you did about Cherie. She is so good, so kind. The sweetest woman that I ever knew besides my mother! Why, why did you tell me such awful things of her, Jeanne? They are not true."

Jeanne was aghast at the question. She stood, unable to answer, fearing to excite him by telling the truth and yet unwilling for him to be under the impression that her story was false.

"Tell me," said d.i.c.k, weakly. "Why did you do it? I think of it always.

It was not like you, Jeanne."

"Don"t ask me, d.i.c.k," pleaded Jeanne, falling on her knees beside him.

"Wait until you are well and then we can talk it over."

"You dally," cried d.i.c.k, his eyes bright with fever. "I see how it is!

You fibbed to me, Jeanne. I know you did."

"No, d.i.c.k, I did not," cried Jeanne, heartbroken at the thought that d.i.c.k could believe such a thing of her. "Listen, and I will tell you all about it. s...o...b..ll can tell you too, if you do not believe me. But you will be quiet, d.i.c.k, won"t you? You will be very, very quiet."