as as complete a surprise for her as
for me. She could not tell how I might take it; but she quickly rallied,
burst into a loud screeching laugh, and, with her old Walpurgis gaiety,
danced some fantastic steps in her bare wet feet, tracking the floor with
water, and holding out with finger and thumb, in dainty caricature, her
slammakin old skirt, while she sang some of her nasal patois with an
abominable hilarity and emphasis.

With a gasp, I too recovered from the fascination of the surprise. I could
not speak though for some seconds, and Madame was first.

'Ah, dear Maud, what surprise! Are we not overjoy, dearest, and cannot
speak? I am full of joy--quite charmed--_ravie_--of seeing you. So are you
of me, your face betray. Ah! yes, thou dear little baboon! here is poor
Madame once more! Who could have imagine?'

'I thought you were in France, Madame,' I said, with a dismal effort.

'And so I was, dear Maud; I 'av just arrive. Your uncle Silas he wrote to
the superioress for gouvernante to accompany a young lady--that is you,
Maud--on her journey, and she send me; and so, ma chere, here is poor
Madame arrive to charge herself of that affair.'

'How soon do we leave for France, Madame?' I asked.

'I do not know, but the old women--wat is her name?'

'Wyat,' I suggested.

'Oh! oui, Waiatt;--she says two, three week. And who conduct you to poor
Madame's apartment, my dear Maud?' She inquired insinuatingly.

'No one, I answered promptly: 'I reached it quite accidentally, and I
can't imagine why you should conceal yourself.' Something like indignation
kindled in my mind as I began to wonder at the sly strategy which had been
practised upon me.

'I 'av not conceal myself, Mademoiselle,' retorted the governness. 'I 'av
act precisally as I 'av been ordered. Your uncle, Mr. Silas Ruthyn, he is
afraid, Waiatt says, to be interrupted by his creditors, and everything
must be done very quaitly. I have been commanded to avoid _me faire voir_,
you know, and I must obey my employer--voila tout!'

'And for how long have you been residing here?' I persisted, in the same
resentful vein.

''Bout a week. It is soche triste place! I am so glad to see you, Maud!
I've been so isolee, you dear leetle fool!'

'You are _not_ glad, Madame; you don't love me--you never did,' I exclaimed
with sudden vehemence.

'Yes, I am _very_ glad; you know not, chere petite _niaise_, how I 'av
desire to educate you a leetle more. Let us underst