once
apparent that she was battling against a sense of faintness; but even
this discomfort did not induce her to allow a single pin to be less
conscientiously placed, a single curl less carefully smoothed. Adolphine
did not dare to betray that she perceived the failure of her mistress'
strength, and had not courage to offer her a glass of water. When the
folds of her heavy black silk dress were adjusted, her collar and
sleeves, of rich lace, arranged, her girdle tightly clasped with a
buckle of brilliants which was an heirloom, and her snowy hair
ornamented with a Parisian head-dress of mingled lace, velvet, and
flowers, she contemplated herself in the mirror as complacently as
though she perceived no change in her shrunken, haggard, altered
features, and rose up to proceed to the _salon_.

Her first steps were so feeble and uncertain that Adolphine started
forward involuntarily, to offer her arm; but a look from her mistress
made her draw back, and the tread of the countess grew firmer as she
entered the drawing-room. She did not sink into the nearest seat, but
crossed the apartment to the arm-chair which she was accustomed to
occupy; but she had hardly sat down, before her eyes closed and her head
fell back; her face was as white as that of the dead. Adolphine caught
up a bottle of cologne; but she stood in such fear of the countess, that
without using the restorative she ran to summon Bertha. Bertha
approached her aunt in great alarm, but sprinkled the cologne on her
face with lavish hands, applied it to her nostrils, and bathed her
temples. In a few moments Madame de Gramont opened her eyes and said,--

"A little on my handkerchief, Bertha. Adolphine carelessly forgot to
give me any."

Her proud, unconquered spirit would not admit the passing insensibility
of its mortal part. There was nothing to be done except for her niece
and maid to appear unconscious of the weakness which she herself
ignored. Adolphine placed a footstool beneath her mistress' feet and
retired. Bertha went to the window and looked out,--a favorite amusement
of hers, as we are aware.

The fortnight had been one of severe privation and discipline to her.
She had not once seen Madeleine, for she could not have left her aunt,
except when Maurice was with her, and the countess would not have
permitted her niece to go forth unprotected by Maurice or her maid, and
the latter could not be spared. The escort of Bertha's affianced husband
Madame de G