it, but my thumb, and shook
it, folded in her broad palm, and looking on me as she held it, as if
meditating mischief. Then suddenly she said--

'You will always remember Madame, I _think_, and I will remind you of me
beside; and for the present farewell, and I hope you may be as 'appy as you
deserve.'

The large sinister face looked on me for a second with its latent sneer,
and then, with a sharp nod and a spasmodic shake of my imprisoned thumb,
she turned, and holding her dress together, and showing her great bony
ankles, she strode rapidly away over the gnarled roots into the perspective
of the trees, and I did not awake, as it were, until she had quite
disappeared in the distance.

Events of this kind made no difference with my father; but every other face
in Knowl was gladdened by the removal. My energies had returned, my spirits
were come again. The sunlight was happy, the flowers innocent, the songs
and flutter of the birds once more gay, and all nature delightful and
rejoicing.

After the first elation of relief, now and then a filmy shadow of Madame de
la Rougierre would glide across the sunlight, and the remembrance of her
menace return with an unexpected pang of fear.

'Well, if _there_ isn't impittens!' cried Mrs. Rusk. 'But never you trouble
your head about it, Miss. Them sort's all alike--you never saw a rogue yet
that was found out and didn't threaten the honest folk as he was leaving
behind with all sorts; there was Martin the gamekeeper, and Jervis the
footman, I mind well how hard they swore all they would not do when they
was a-going, and who ever heard of them since? They always threatens that
way--them sort always does, and none ever the worse--not but she would if
she could, mind ye, but there it is; she can't do nothing but bite her
nails and cuss us--not she--ha, ha, ha!'

So I was comforted. But Madame's evil smile, nevertheless, from time to
time, would sail across my vision with a silent menace, and my spirits
sank, and a Fate, draped in black, whose face I could not see, took me by
the hand, and led me away, in the spirit, silently, on an awful exploration
from which I would rouse myself with a start, and Madame was gone for a
while.

She had, however, judged her little parting well. She contrived to leave
her glamour over me, and in my dreams she troubled me.

I was, however, indescribably relieved. I wrote in high spirits to Cousin
Monica; and wondered what plans my father might h