d what had happened to sympathetic listeners.

Evening was approaching; his absence from his father had been far more
protracted than usual, and before he had said half that he desired to
say, or listened to half that he wished to hear, he was compelled to
leave.

When the hand of Maurice was on the door of his grandmother's _salon_,
he could distinguish the sound of angry voices within,--his
grandmother's sonorous tones and the sharper voice of Mrs. Gratacap. As
he entered, the latter was saying,--

"It's a sin and a shame, I tell you! And I'll not have the poor dear
made miserable in that way, while he is under my charge. I'm not going
to submit to it; and you know you can't frighten me with all your high
ways."

Mrs. Gratacap was standing beside the count, as though to protect him;
Madame de Gramont was seated directly before him, and looking highly
incensed. Count Tristan himself appeared to be in great tribulation, and
grasped the hand of his nurse with a dependent air. As soon as he caught
sight of Maurice, he cried out,--

"I'm not going! I'm not going, I say! Maurice, come, come and tell her!"

"What has happened?" inquired Maurice, with deep concern.

The countess attempted to speak, but Mrs. Gratacap was too quick for
her.

"Here's the madame has been talking to the poor dear until she has
driven him half wild. I never saw anything like it in my born days; she
wont give him one moment's peace! He was doing well enough until she
began _jawing_ him."

It is to be hoped that the countess did not understand the meaning of
this last, not very classical expression.

"Will you be silent, woman?" said she, wrathfully.

Mrs. Gratacap was about to answer; but Maurice silenced her by a
reproving look, and then asked again,--

"What has happened? Why does my father seem so much distressed?"

"I have been preparing his mind"--began the countess.

Mrs. Gratacap broke in, "Upsetting his mind, you mean."

Before Madame de Gramont could answer, Maurice said to the nurse, in a
persuasive tone, "Pray leave us, for a little while, Mrs. Gratacap."

"I wouldn't contrary you for the world!" returned the nurse. "Only when
_she's_ done, just you come to _me_ and I'll give you the rights of the
case."

Mrs. Gratacap departed, and the countess continued,--

"I have been explaining to your father that we are shortly to leave this
execrable country and return to Brittany, and that he has great cause
for congratulati