With Gallic caution she made delicate inquiry of Hector's father as to the yearly returns and probable future of the cooperage business at St. Genevieve, as to the desirability of the surrounding country upon which the cooperage business must base its own fortunes.

Others may possess in greater abundance than we, but as for myself, my business of the cooperage prospers,behold my excellent wife Jeanne, yonder,and this daughter of ours!

"Will you please tell the doctor," said he, "that the workman who cut his finger at the cooperage wishes to see him?" Madelene's dark gray eyes twinkled.