"Your Ladyship rang?" inquired Marie, turning a half-guilty glance on her mistress.
"Yes! Did I hear voices, as I came in?"
"Did your Ladyship? I mean, I was going to speak to your Ladyship.
It"s my niece!" suddenly. "On her way to Paris!"
"Your niece!" The Governor"s daughter looked at the other. "And you--are pleased?"
"Your Ladyship--" The woman flushed.
"Of course, though, you must be! She is out there? Show her in!"
quickly.
"But--"
"At once!"
"Very well, my Lady!" Marie"s manner, however, was depressed, as, stepping to the threshold, reluctantly she beckoned.
Erect, with mien almost antagonistic, Nanette entered and stood before the Lady Elise. The latter did not at once speak; for a few moments the observant brown eyes pa.s.sed in quick scrutiny over her visitor; noting the aggressive brows; the broad, strong face; the self-a.s.sertive pose of the well-developed figure. A woman to do--to dare!--What?
[Ill.u.s.tration: "A woman to do--to dare!"]
"You wished to see me?" Nanette first spoke.
Marie lifted an expostulatory hand. What bad manners, thus to dare!
But my lady did not seem to notice. "You are from one of the islands?"
she began.
"Yes."
"Say "my Lady"!" broke in the old nurse. "I trust your Ladyship will pardon--"
"Never mind, Marie!" with a quick gesture. "Your aunt tells me you are on your way to Paris?"
"Yes--my Lady!" with the slightest hesitation before the last two words. "To seek a situation as lady"s maid!"
"When are you leaving?"
"To-morrow morning, your Ladyship!" interposed Marie quickly.
"So soon?" My lady continued to address the girl. "You have had experience?"
"No, my Lady!"
"Then how can you secure what you wish?"
"How? At least, I can try!"
"To be sure! You can try." My lady"s eyes fell; she seemed to be thinking. "Still, it may be difficult; Paris is far away. And if you should fail," her fingers tapped nervously on the chair, "we are very busy at the Mount just now," she added suddenly, directing her glance full upon the other, "and there may be something here--"
"Here! Your Ladyship will keep me here!"
Marie made a movement as if to speak, but her niece intercepted her.
"I will do my best, my Lady!"
"Very well! Then shall you have a trial!"
"Your Ladyship!" interposed Marie.
The Governor"s daughter got up quickly. "I am very tired, Marie, and wish now to be alone! You need not remain--I shall not want you again to-night."
The old nurse murmured a dejected response; turned away.
"I thank your Ladyship!" The girl"s last look was one of indubitable satisfaction ere she followed her aunt from the room.
My lady stared after them. ""Daughter of Pierre Laroche! Friend of the Black Seigneur!"" Marie"s words continued to ring in her ears.
She threw herself into a chair; sat long very still, her eyes bent straight before her, on either cheek now a bright spot of color.
CHAPTER XXVII
A STROLL ON THE STRAND
"You are in a hurry, Monsieur Beppo?" arms akimbo, Nanette, standing in an embrasure of the rampart, called out to the Governor"s man as he pa.s.sed by.
"Ah, Mistress Nanette," Beppo stopped readily enough, "I didn"t see you at first."
"Because you have more important matters to think of," she laughed, showing her strong white teeth.
The fat old man looked pleased; a few days before, Nanette had flashed a radiant smile at him from her cas.e.m.e.nt, and, ever since, he had been inclined to regard her with favor.
"Not more important, but duties that must be attended to! The wedding hour draws near." The island girl half turned her head; a shadow seemed to pa.s.s over the bold, sunburned features. "And her ladyship gives to-morrow a riding party for her guests--a last celebration before she is led to the altar. I am on my way now to arrange about the escort."
"A riding party!" Nanette spoke quickly. "You mean on horseback?"
"How else?" said Beppo. "It is a pastime her ladyship has always been very fond of, even as a child. In those days," not without an accent of self-importance, "it was my privilege--"
"Do they ride far?" interrupted Nanette with ill-suppressed eagerness.
"To the old Monastery St. Ranulphe; an imposing ruin of tenth century architecture, my dear," he added pompously.
"And where is it?"
"Off the Paris highway, some ten miles from the Mount."