nopy over it, a footstool, a desk
and a small table before it, was vacant, and the work--a poor child's
knitted cap--laid down; but an elderly minister, seated at a carved
desk, had not discontinued reading from a great black book, and did not
even cease while the strangers crossed the room, merely making a slight
inclination with his head, while the ladies half rose, rustled a slight
reverence with their black, gray or russet skirts, but hardly lifted
their eyes. Eustacie thought the Louvre had never been half so
formidable or impressive.

The page lifted a heavy green curtain behind the canopy, knocked at a
door, and, as it opened, Eustacie was conscious of a dignified presence,
that, in spite of her previous petulance, caused her instinctively to
bend in such a reverence as had formerly been natural to her; but, at
the same moment, a low and magnificent curtsey was made to her, a hand
was held out, a stately kiss was on her brow, and a voice of dignified
courtesy said, 'Pardon me, Madame la Baronne, for giving you this
trouble. I feared that otherwise we could not safely meet.'

'Madame is very good. My Rayonette, make thy reverence; kiss thy hand to
the lady, my lamb.' And the little one obeyed, gazing with her blue eyes
full opened, and clinging to her mother.

'Ah! Madame la Baronne makes herself obeyed,' said Madame de Quinet,
well pleased. 'Is it then a girl?'

'Yes, Madame, I could scarcely forgive her at first; but she has made
herself all the dearer to me.'

'It is a pity,' said Madame de Quinet, 'for yours is an ancient stem.'

'Did Madame know my parents?' asked Eustacie, drawn from her spirit of
defiance by the equality of the manner with which she was treated.

'Scarcely,' replied the Duchess; but, with a smile, 'I had the honour to
see you married.'

'Ah, then,'--Eustacie glowed, almost smiled, though a tear was in her
eyes--'you can see how like my little one is to her father,--a true
White Ribaumont.'

The Duchess had not the most distinct recollection of the complexion of
the little bridegroom; but Rayonette's fairness was incontestable, and
the old lady complimented it so as to draw on the young mother into
confidence on the pet moonbeam appellation which she used in dread of
exciting suspicion by using the true name of Berangere, with all the why
and wherefore.

It was what the Duchess wanted. Imperious as some thought her, she would
on no account have appeared to cross-examine any one w