disclosures of an earlier hour, had led him to conclude that there was a
villainous plot on foot, of which the King did not seem to approve, and
which therefore might be made known to those interested without real
breach of faith. What he knew he told, and eked it out with what he
could but conjecture.

The conference lasted long. While it was confined to the designs of the
French, on which the short gusts of the Lieutenant-Governor's stormy
impatience had thrown a transient gleam of lurid light, the ladies were
all attention. When the page began to talk of the King's loyal resolves
and of what great things he would do, they gave less heed. It seemed to
them that Charles Stuart was all too young, too much bound to his
mother, to be trusted in an affair wherein her favourite took an
interest. Tom pleaded his master's cause with the zeal of one who felt
himself to have done that master some wrong; but he pleaded in vain.
Little did the Jersey ladies care who might bear rule in the British
islands; their chief care was for what would affect Jersey, and--above
all men and things of Jersey--their dear Michael, now in exile.

It had long grown dusk, and Tom knew that he was absent without leave.
His visit must be cut short. If he glanced significantly at Marguerite
as he bent over Rose's hand, if he hoped that Marguerite would follow
him to the door and allow an integration of former toys, he was only
building on a precocious knowledge of the sex. "I will but lock the door
after Mr. Elliot," said she to Rose, in patois, "be tranquil, my sister,
he is but an infant."

The dismissal of the infant appeared a work of time. In the meanwhile
Rose opened the wainscot door, and called softly up the narrow stair to
which it led. Alain heard her, and came down, looking anxiously round
the parlour as he came inside.

"Is Marguerite gone out," he asked, "with yonder _polisson_ of the
Court?"

"Thou knowest her, my friend," answered Madame de Maufant, kindly; "ever
since her mother's death she has been a daughter to me. But a sister is
not a mother at the end of the account; and our little one will not be
kept a prisoner. She has learned English ideas in her girlhood, passed
as you know with our London kinsfolk. Once she is married her husband
will find her faithful, in life and to the death."

"Such freedoms are not according to our island ways."

"Be not stupid, my good Alain. Mr. Elliot is an old friend; though her
dealings w