sufferer strove to appease her wretchedness by the utmost endeavour
to save her husband's soul, the old foster-mother had made known to
her that she might thus sacrifice another than herself. Eustacie's
elastic heart had begun to revive, with all its dauntless strength
of will. What to her women seemed only a fear, was to her only a
hope.

Frank and confiding as was her nature, however, the cruel
deceptions already practiced on her by her own kindred, together
with the harsh words with which the Abbess spoke of Berenger, had
made her aware that no comfort must be looked for in that quarter.
It was, after all, perhaps her won instinct, and the aunt's want of
sympathy, that withheld her from seeking counsel of any save
Perrine and her daughter, at any rate till she could communicate
with the kind young Queen. To her, then, Eustacie had written,
entreating that a royal mandate would recall her in time to bestow
herself in some trustworthy hands, or even in her husband's won
Norman castle, where his heir would be both safe and welcome. But
time has passed--the whole space that she had reckoned as needful
for the going and coming of her messenger--allowing for all the
obstructions of winter roads--nay, he had come back; she knew
letter was delivered, but answer there was none. It might yet
come--perhaps a royal carriage and escort--and day after day had
she waited and hoped, only tardily admitting the conviction that
Elisabeth of Austria was as powerless as Eustacie de Ribaumont, and
meantime revolving and proposing many a scheme that could only have
entered the brain of a brave-spirited child as she was. To appeal
to her vassals, garrison with them a ruinous old tower in the
woods, and thence send for aid to the Montmorencys; to ride to
Saumur, and claim the protection of the governor of the province;