gentleness.

When Maurice informed his grandmother that he had obtained a new _garde
malade_, the countess at once asked,--

"Are you attempting to introduce another spy of Mademoiselle de Gramont
into my dwelling?"

Maurice controlled his indignation and replied, "My cousin Madeleine has
never seen this person. I hope she will suit, as I have engaged her for
a month, that being the custom here; even if she does not meet _all_ our
requirements, we cannot discharge her until that period has elapsed."

"I shall not consent to any such stipulation," answered the countess.
"If she does not please me, I shall order her to leave at once."

"The arrangement is already concluded," returned Maurice; "it is the
only one I could make, and you cannot but see that it is a matter of
honor, as well as of necessity, to abide by the contract."

Maurice evinced tact in his choice of language. The imposing words
"honor" and "contract" made an impression upon the countess, and she
said no more.

The next day, shortly after the morning meal, the sound of sharp tones
echoing through the entry, was followed by the noisy opening of the
countess' drawing-room door.

"This is the place, is it?" cried a harsh voice. "I say, boy, bring
along that box and dump it down here."

Mrs. Gratacap entered with a bandbox in one hand, and in the other a
huge umbrella and huger bundle, while the box (which was a compromise
between a trunk and a packing-case) was carried in without further
ceremony. Mrs. Gratacap was attired with an exemplary regard for
_utility_; her garments were too short to be soiled by contact with the
mud, and disclosed Amazonian feet encased in sturdy boots, to say
nothing of respectable ankles protected by gray stockings. Her dress was
of a sombre hue and chargeable with no unnecessary amplitude; where it
was pulled up at the sides a gray balmoral petticoat was visible;
crinoline had been scrupulously renounced (as it should be in a
sick-chamber); the coal-skuttle bonnet performed its legitimate duty in
shading her face as well as covering her head.

The countess might well look up in stupefied amazement; for she had
never before been thrown into communication with humanity so strikingly
primitive, and so complacently self-confident.

"This is the nurse of whom I spoke," was Maurice's introduction.

Mrs. Gratacap who had been too busily engaged in looking after her
"properties" to perceive the viscount until he spoke, no