But the sea only laughed in the sunlight and revealed no secrets.
Mademoiselle was quite prostrate by that time.

She lay in a darkened room with her head swathed in a black shawl, and called upon all the holy saints to witness that she had always predicted this disaster.
Chris's two young brothers slept fitfully, waking now and then to assure each other uneasily that of course she would turn up sooner or later sound in wind and limb; she always did.
Noel, the younger, who was more or less in Chris's confidence, gave it as his opinion that she had eloped with someone, that officer-chap she met the other day, he'd lay a wager! But Maxwell poured contempt upon the bare suggestion.

Chris--elope with a Frenchman! He could as easily see himself eloping with the Goat--a pet name that he and his brother had bestowed upon Mademoiselle Gautier, and which fitted her rather well upon occasion.
Three hours after sunrise the prodigal returned, lightfooted, gay of mien.

She was alone when she arrived, having firmly refused Bertrand's escort farther then the end of the _plage_, lest poor Mademoiselle, who hated men, should have hysterics.

But the tale of her adventures had preceded her.