, yet she now
swallowed her cup of coffee as though it nearly choked her, and tried,
in vain, to force down a few morsels of bread. Nothing would have
induced her to depart from the custom of her country where coffee and
bread are considered all-sufficient for the first meal.

They had returned to the drawing-room when Maurice entered. The countess
greeted him with an inclination of the head, but asked no questions.

"My father seems to be in the same state," said he. "There was no change
during the night; he does not appear to suffer; but, as yet, he is not
conscious."

Madame de Gramont made no reply, but her breast visibly heaved.

"Did you sit up?" asked Bertha. "Are you not very much fatigued? Did
Madeleine watch also? Is she not very weary?"

"Not very; nor am I." Then he turned to his grandmother. "Will you come
with me to see my father? You will find that every arrangement possible
has been made for your privacy."

The lips of the countess curled scornfully, but she rose and passed into
her chamber.

"I must make ready also," cried Bertha, flying out of the room. "I am so
glad that we are to go."

She returned wearing her bonnet and mantle. It was sometime before the
countess reentered, prepared to depart.

Maurice had ordered a carriage, and they were soon at Madeleine's door.

If the countess noticed the draperies which closed off a portion of the
house, she gave no sign of doing so.

Madeleine was sitting beside Count Tristan, but rose to yield her place
to his mother. Madame de Gramont only betrayed that she was aware of her
niece's presence by a slight movement of the head, while her eyes looked
past her toward the passive figure lying on the bed. She took the vacant
seat with a sort of frozen quietude, and her limbs seemed to settle
themselves rigidly into positions where they remained immovable.

Madeleine at once retired, knowing that her presence must be galling to
the proud relative whom circumstance thus forced into contact with her;
nor did she reenter the room again while the countess was there. Maurice
remained with his father and grandmother, but Bertha stole away to
Madeleine's boudoir.

M. de Bois, who had called to inquire after the count, and to know of
what service he could be, found the cousins together. Madeleine, whose
wealth of energy rendered idleness, when it could be avoided, another
name for weariness, had seated herself at her desk, and was making
sketches for Ruth to