They stayed for an hour at the saw-mill, and Michel, in spite of all that he had said about tobacco, smoked another pipe.  While they were there, George, though his mind was full of other matter, continued to give his father practical advice about the business—­ how a new wheel should be supplied here, and a lately invented improvement introduced there.  Each of them at the moment was care-laden with special thoughts of his own, but nevertheless, as men of business, they knew that the hour was precious and used it.  To saunter into the woods and do nothing was not at all in accordance with Michel’s usual mode of life; and though he hummed and hawed, and doubted and grumbled, he took a note of all his son said, and was quite of a mind to make use of his son’s wit.

‘I shall be over at Epinal the day after tomorrow,’ he said as they left the mill, ‘and I’ll see if I can get the new crank there.’

‘They’ll be sure to have it at Heinman’s,’ said George, as they began to descend the hill.  From the spot on which they had been standing the walk down to Granpere would take them more than an hour.  It might well be that they might make it an affair of two or three hours, if they went up to other timber-cuttings on their route; but George was sure that as soon as he began to tell his story his father would make his way straight for home.  He would be too much moved to think of his timber, and too angry to desire to remain a minute longer than he could help in company with his son.  Looking at all the circumstances as carefully as he could, George thought that he had better begin at once.  ’As you feel Marie’s going so much,’ he said, ’I wonder that you are so anxious to send her away.’

’That’s a poor argument, George, and one that I should not have expected from you.  Am I to keep her here all her life, doing no good for herself, simply because I like to have her here?  It is in the course of things that she should be married, and it is my duty to see that she marries well.’

‘That is quite true, father.’

’Then why do you talk to me about sending her away?  I don’t send her away.  Urmand comes and takes her away.  I did the same when I was young.  Now I’m old, and I have to be left behind.  It’s the way of nature.’

‘But she doesn’t want to be taken away,’ said George, rushing at once at his subject.

‘What do you mean by that?’

’Just what I say, father.  She consents to be taken away, but she does not wish it.’

’I don’t know what you mean.  Has she been talking to you?  Has she been complaining?’

’I have been talking to her.  I came over from Colmar when I heard of this marriage on purpose that I might talk to her.  I had at any rate a right to do that.’

’Right to do what?  I don’t know that you have any right.  If you have been trying to do mischief in my house, George, I will never forgive you—­never.’