I am, she will
not expect me to hurry at her beck and call the first moment. Here,
Rayonette, my bird, my beauty, thou must have a clean cap; ay, and these
flaxen curls combed.'

'Would you take the child?'

'Would I go without Mademoiselle de Rambouillet? She is all her mother
is, and more. There, now she is a true rose-bud, ready to perch on my
arm. No, no _bon pere_. So great a girl is too much for you to carry.
Don't be afraid, my darling, we are not going to a sermon, no one will
beat her; oh no, and if the insolent retainers and pert lacqueys laugh
at her mother, no one will hurt her.'

'Nay, child,' said Maitre Gardon; 'this is a well-ordered household,
where contempt and scorn are not suffered. Only, dear, dear daughter,
let me pray you to be your true self with the Duchess.'

Eustacie shrugged her shoulders, and had mischief enough in her to
enjoy keeping her good father in some doubt and dread as he went halting
wearily by her side along the much-decorated streets that marked the
grand Gasche of Tarn and Tarascon. The Hotel de Quinet stretched out its
broad stone steps, covered with vaultings, absolutely across the street,
affording a welcome shade, and no obstruction where wheeled carriages
never came.

All was, as Maitre Isaac had said, decorum itself. A couple of armed
retainers, rigid as sentinels, waited on the steps; a grave porter,
maimed in the wars opened the great door; half a dozen--_laquais_ in
sober though rich liveries sat on a bench in the hall, and had
somewhat the air of having been set to con a lesson. Two of them coming
respectfully forward, ushered Maitre Gardon and his companion to an
ante-room, where various gentlemen, or pastors, or candidates--among
them Samuel Mace--were awaiting a summons to the Duchess, or merely
using it as a place of assembly. A page of high birth, but well schooled
in steadiness of demeanour, went at once to announce the arrival; and
Gardon and his companion had not been many moments in conversation
with their acquaintance among the ministers, before the grave gentleman
returned, apparently from his audience and the page, coming to Eustacie,
intimated that she was to follow him to Madame le Duchesse's presence.

He conducted her across a great tapestry-hung saloon, where twelve or
fourteen ladies of all ages--from seventy to fifteen--sat at work: some
at tapestry, some spinning, some making coarse garments for the poor. A
great throne-like chair, with a ca