have known Madame de
Gramont better than to have supposed she would have stooped to bestow
glances enough upon a servant of Madeleine's, or, indeed, any servant,
to know his features. Robert placed the salver upon the table, and
either because he was naturally a silent man, or because the presence of
the countess struck him dumb, or because he had no message to deliver
that morning, retired without speaking. Bertha looked anxiously at her
aunt; the immobility of her features was reassuring.

The salver bore a pitcher of admirably prepared chocolate, made by
Madeleine herself, a plate carefully covered with a napkin, containing a
delicate species of Normandy cake, to which the countess had been
particularly partial in Brittany (Madeleine had remembered the recipe),
and a dish of enormous strawberries, served, according to the French
custom, with their stems. It occurred to Bertha, for the first time,
that perhaps there was a cipher upon Madeleine's plate which would
betray from whence it came; she examined a spoon before she ventured to
present the tray to her aunt. The silver only bore the letter "M."
Bertha, considerably relieved, but still flurried by the peril she had
just escaped, placed a small table before Madame de Gramont, then poured
out and handed her the chocolate in silence, fearing to provoke some
question.

The countess, who was growing faint again, gladly accepted the
nourishing beverage, and even ate several cakes. She seemed to enjoy
them, for it was long since she had spoken in so pleasant a tone as when
she remarked,--

"These cakes remind me of our noble old chateau; one would hardly
suppose that they would be found in America."

Bertha suspected who had made the cakes, and, to draw her aunt's
attention away from them, said,--

"What delicious strawberries! And how fragrant they are!"

The countess took one by the stem, and dipped it in the sugar, but with
a disparaging look. It was large and juicy, and possessed a rich flavor
and an aromatic odor which French strawberries can seldom boast; but the
countess would not have admitted the superiority even of American fruit
over that of her own country, and after tasting a few of the
strawberries returned to the cake which reminded her of her forsaken
home.

How fared it with Count Tristan during the fortnight in which he had not
seen his august mother? Under judicious and tender care, he had
steadily, rapidly improved. His mental faculties had b