He looked into her face, and his own kindled strangely.  “I will say nothing but that I love you—­I love you—­I love you!  Today that is enough between us, Kate.  Let the rest go—­the honour and glory of the world, the commission, and all besides.  Today we belong to each other; tomorrow we sing of peace on earth, goodwill toward men.  Let that suffice us; let us forget the rest.  We will be happy together in our love, and in love to all mankind.  After that we must think again of these things.  Afterwards thoughts of war and strife must have their place; but for once let love be lord of our lives.  After that storm and strife—­and Quebec!”

Book 5:  Within Quebec.

Chapter 1:  The Impregnable City.

Within a lofty chamber, with narrow windows and walls of massive thickness, stood a young, bright-haired girl, looking with dreamy eyes across the wide waters of the great St. Lawrence, as it rolled its majestic course some hundreds of feet below.  Although that mighty waterway narrowed as it passed the rocky promontory upon which the city of Quebec was built, it was even there a wonderful river; and looking westward, as the girl was doing, it seemed to spread out before her eyes like a veritable sea.  It was dotted with ships of various dimensions bringing in supplies, or news of coming help or peril—­news of that great armament from distant England, perhaps, whose approach was being awaited by all within the city with a sense of intense expectancy, not entirely unmixed with fear.

True, the soldiers laughed to scorn the idea of any attack upon Quebec.  It stood upon its rocky tongue of land, frowning and unassailable, as it seemed to them.  All along the north bank of the lower river the French were throwing up earthworks and intrenching their army, to hinder any attempt at landing troops there; and the guns of the town batteries would soon sink and destroy any vessel rash enough to try to pass the town, and gain a footing upon the shores above.  Indeed, so frowning and precipitous were these that nature herself seemed to be sufficient guard.

“Let the English come, and see what welcome we have got for them!” was a favourite exclamation from soldiers and townsfolk; yet all the same there was anxiety in the faces of those who watched daily for the first approach of the English sails.  Had not Louisbourg said the same, and yet had fallen before English hardihood and resolution?  Those in the highest places in this Canadian capital best knew the rotten condition into which her affairs had fallen.  The corruption amongst officials, the jealousy between Governor and General, the crafty self seeking of the Intendant—­these and a hundred other things were enough to cause much anxiety at headquarters.  The grand schemes of the French for acquiring a whole vast continent were fast dwindling down to the anxious hope of being able to keep what they already possessed.