sisters in the yard. Another time, in conjunction with the
sacristan, he bestowed her in the great seigneurial tribune (or
squire's pew) in the village church, a tall carved box, where she
was completely hidden; and the only time when she had failed to
obtain warning beforehand, she stood kneading bread at a tub in
Martin's cottage, while the hunt passed by, and a man-at-arms
looked in and questioned the master on the last traces of the
runaway.

It was seldom possible to see Mere Perrine, who was carefully
watched, under the conviction that she must know where her nursling
was; but one evening Veronique ventured up to Martin's farm,
trusting to tidings that the gentlemen had been Eustacie's only
secure harbour; and when, in a bright evening gleam of the setting
sun from beneath the clouds, Veronique came in sight of her Lady,
the Queen's favourite, it was to see her leading by a string a
little shaggy cow, with a bell round its neck, her gray cloak
huddled round her, though dank with wet, a long lock of black hair
streaming over her brow, her garments clinging with damp, her bare
ankles scratched with thorns, her heavy SABOTS covered with mire,
her cheeks pale with cold and wet.

The contrast overwhelmed poor Veronique. She dropped on her knees,
sobbing as if her heart would break, and declaring that this was
what the Abbess had feared; her Lady was fast killing herself.

'Hush! Veronique,' said Eustacie; 'that is all folly. I am wet
and weary now, but oh! if you knew how much sweeter to me life is
now than it was, shut up down there, with my fears. See,' and she
held up a bunch of purple pasque-flowers and wood-sorrel, 'this is