In the morning, looking into each other's faces, they read their fate.

Neither spoke; but Piney, accepting the position of the stronger, drew near and placed her arm around the Duchess's waist.

They kept this attitude for the rest of the day.

That night the storm reached its greatest fury, and, rending asunder the protecting pines, invaded the very hut.
Toward morning they found themselves unable to feed the fire, which gradually died away.

As the embers slowly blackened, the Duchess crept closer to Piney, and broke the silence of many hours: "Piney, can you pray ?" "No, dear," said Piney, simply.