The Maid of Honour Volume I Part 8

"You will not be absent long?" inquired the marquise, in a reproachful tone.

"A couple of weeks at most. The fact is, that I am going to Spa, and hope to bring back with me the a.s.sistant, without whom I can advance no further."

"You said you did not object," murmured Pharamond, softly.

"Object? Certainly not. I said so long ago."

Clovis frowned. He did not like to be reminded of dependence just as he was about to use his liberty.

"I have a hundred questions to ask, which must be answered by word of mouth, and shall bring back such a budget of testimony as shall surprise even you into belief. The country is distressingly quiet and monotonous. You are not afraid, I suppose, to await my return under the joint protection of my brothers?"

The abbe was innocently contemplating the tapestry opposite with rapt interest; the chevalier was examining the floor. If the husband had only known--how whimsical a question! Gabrielle glanced at one, then at the other, with a tiny twinge of misgiving, which speedily gave way to confidence, and replied simply--

"Oh, no; I am afraid of neither. Even if they attempted to do me harm, and why should they? have I not Toinon at hand, and her no less devoted lover?"

"Harm! From us!" echoed Pharamond, vastly tickled. "Phebus is an ogre with great teeth and one blear eye, whilst I am the original Croquemitaine, devourer of white-fleshed maidens."

"I have said I am not afraid of you," remarked the marquise, demurely.

"Jean Boulot, the devoted lover!" continued the playful abbe. "More danger in his little finger, I warrant, than in both our bodies. While you are absent, Clovis, I've half a mind to divert myself with pretty Toinon; but, alas! I am in terror of her big surly bear. A brawny malcontent! Only the other day I heard him deliver an address under the village tree--such a compound of fire and brimstone--and I suppose my smile was not respectful; for, catching my eye, he directed his abuse at me, and poured forth such a scurrilous diatribe against our cla.s.s that I was glad enough to escape. Like everyone else, however, he respects Gabrielle, and when he becomes aggressive, she shall shield us from his wrath!"

The marquise was relieved, for this was a delicate way of hinting that there was to be no recurrence of that scene. Why should she mind being left with the brothers? Clovis, who did not shine as a protector, might depart on his mission with a light heart, to return as soon as possible wreathed with the laurels of success.

He went, and the household, after the small excitement of the unimportant incident, returned to its monotony of peace. The brothers treated their chatelaine with such an increase of punctilio and ceremony as should perforce stop the idle gossip of provincial busybodies. Even shrewd Toinon, who was of an unbelieving turn, and never quite satisfied with regard to the honeyed churchman, looked on the situation with approval.

The marquis had been absent three weeks when a messenger arrived with a missive directed to the abbe. Gabrielle was in the moat garden superintending the chevalier, who was occupied in the watering of plants. Toinon was there, too, looking after Jean Boulot, as was her duty, while he clipped and trimmed the hedges, with the prodigies hanging to his coat-tails. The group made a charming picture of rural bliss, such as it makes good the heart to look upon. Through the postern-door leisurely emerged the abbe, gazing at a paper as he descended the gra.s.sy slope with a scowl of genuine annoyance.

"What is it?" cried Gabrielle, turning pale. "Nothing wrong with Clovis?"

"Everything wrong with Clovis," retorted Pharamond, testily. "He must have lost his wits to be capable of such a proceeding."

"He is well?"

"Oh, yes; he is well."

"Then all is well."

"Is it? That remains to be shown. He will be home to-morrow at supper time."

"Then all is well, indeed. The best of news!"

Delighted as she was, a pang shot through the heart of the marquise, in that the absent one had elected to communicate with his brother rather than his wife.

"Do you know?" she remarked with a smile, "that I am quite jealous. He ought to have written to me."

"I suppose he had the decency to be ashamed, and so left it to me to smooth the way for him. There is something here which I doubt your liking. It was wrong--very, very wrong--not to have first consulted _you_."

"What is it? Let me know, without all this parley. You torture me!"

"Well, the prodigal returns to-morrow--but not alone."

"I know that. He had full permission to hire an a.s.sistant. Are there more? He is welcome to bring his friends."

"A female friend?"

"A woman!" e.j.a.c.u.l.a.t.ed Gabrielle, dropping her garden scissors, while Toinon stared, round-eyed.

"A woman!" echoed Pharamond, moved to real anger. "Was there ever anything so ridiculous! a woman picked up at Spa!"

"What can she want here?' inquired Toinon.

"A protegee, it appears, of that infernal prophet," grumbled the abbe.

"Listen to what he says: 'Gabrielle will be charmed,' he writes (double distilled blockhead), 'when she understands it all, for by a most lucky chance, the presence of Mademoiselle Brunelle will serve a double purpose. She is an adept of the first cla.s.s, educated under the eye of Mesmer himself, instructed in all the intricacies of animal magnetism, and has, moreover, successfully followed the avocation of governess. The dear children have outgrown the reach of my wife's teaching, and Mademoiselle Brunelle can henceforth superintend their studies.'"

Pharamond looked dubiously at his sister-in-law, who flushed red, then paled. His annoyance was more than justified, for it was outrageous to engage a resident governess without consulting the wife and mother.

And yet it might be for the best. The dear prodigies knew all that poor Gabrielle could teach them, and in this remote spot it was difficult without great expense to procure masters from Blois or Tours. Clovis had been enabled to see and interview a lady, which was better than taking her on trust by letter. The mother should have been consulted, though, before entering on a definite engagement.

Toinon's indignation broke forth.

"Well, I'm sure," she sniffed, "what next. Stray women are to be brought into the house without madame's sanction. If I were she, I'd dispatch our Jean to bar the way, and forbid the baggage to approach.

Such impudence!"

In curbing the maid's zeal, Gabrielle convinced herself. The marquis was master, and his will was law. He had been most wise and far-seeing in thinking of the dear children's welfare. He had thought more of them than she, who had twitted him with indifference. He had done well, as always, and Toinon would perhaps be kind enough to stifle her impertinence.

Toinon screwed up her lips, and muttered between her teeth, "Madame is a saint too good for earth. She may endure the insult patiently, but I shall hate the horrid woman from the very instant she arrives!"

It was evening when the wheels of the marquis's coach were heard grinding on the gravel, and amid the din of servants moving trunks and bundles, Gabrielle, who waited in the salon, was aware of a deep, strong voice rapping out sharp orders like a rattle of artillery. "You awkward loons!" it shouted, "be careful of that tub and its contents.

Are there not some other rascals somewhere who are less clumsy?"

Ere long, the voice was heard approaching up the stairs, along the corridor, still grumbling noisily anent bucolic yokeldom, and, by and by, a much cloaked figure loomed on the threshold, and straightway went through the complicated evolutions of an elaborate and respectful curtsey.

"Madame la Marquise, no doubt," said the deep, strong voice. "Madame's humble and obedient servant. My name is Aglae Brunelle. Where are the darling infants?"

The abruptness of the salutation amused Gabrielle.

The woman rejoiced in a fine figure, of somewhat large proportions, as was evident when she unwound her wraps. Her complexion was dusky, her hair and eyes coal black. Her mouth large, with full, red lips, which contrasted well with the square white teeth behind. The thick, straight eyebrows were endowed with a strange mobility which hinted at habits of command curiously at variance with the position of the new-comer. Her manner, however, towards the marquise was a miracle of deportment. Submissive respect was deftly mingled with a tinge of independent nonchalance, glossed over with an unconcealed admiration, flattering to the beauty of the chatelaine.

"An oddity," thought Gabrielle, unconsciously relieved to perceive that the large lady was uncomely.

"An ugly, insolent monster," was the uncompromising verdict of fierce Toinon, who had scanned her from the top of the stairs.

Her noisy delight over the prodigies who had been kept up to make acquaintance with their governess quite won the mother's heart. The tall figure went down on its knees with a prodigious thump, and twined them in its bare dark arms with a shower of kisses.

"The darlings--the cherubs--the pets," growled the strong voice, like a m.u.f.fled drum. "They will soon love their Aglae, will they not? I knew that the offspring of a father like the good marquis and of so divinely lovely a mother, must be angels--and they are--they are;"

another shower of kisses. "Madame la Marquise must forgive my brusquerie, for I do so dote on children."

Here was an excellent beginning. The mother was gratified--the father looked on the picturesque group with a broad smile of self-complacency. It was evident for once that he had been extremely clever. Mademoiselle's manners being peculiar, he had had misgivings as to this first interview, but nothing could have gone better. The lady was a marvel of intelligence! Of course she was--a favourite pupil of Mesmer's, who knew his secrets, was mistress of his system.

From this day a new era was to dawn on gloomy Lorge. The new-comer was an undoubted acquisition--just what was required to crown the family edifice. All would go merrily now as marriage bells.