Sobbing, and still protesting, Veronique, however, engaged that if
her Lady succeeded in safely crossing the kitchen in the twilight,
and in leaving the convent, she would keep the secret of her escape
as long as possible, reporting her refusal to appear at supper, and
making such excuses as might very probably prevent the discovery of
her flight till next day.

'And then,' said Eustacie, 'I will send for thee, either to Saumur
or to the old tower! Adieu, dear Veronique, do not be frightened.
Thou dost not know how glad I am that the time for doing something
is come! To-morrow!'

'To-morrow!' thought Veronique, as she shut the door; 'before that
you will be back here again, my poor little Lady, trembling,
weeping, in dire need of being comforted. But I will make up a
good fire, and shake out the bed. I'll let her have no more of
that villainous palliasse. No, no, let her try her own way, and
repent of it; then, when this matter is over, she will turn her
mind to Chevalier Narcisse, and there will be no more languishing
in this miserable hole.'





CHAPTER XVI. THE HEARTHS AND THICKETS OF THE BOCAGE.



I winna spare for his tender age,