“What is it?” cried she, gayly.

“Nothing, mamma.”

“Let me see this nothing.”

They glanced at one another, and, idle as the attempt was, the habit of sparing her prevailed, and they flung themselves between her and the blow.

“Josephine is not well,” said Rose.  “She wants to go in.”  Both girls faced the baroness.

“Jacintha,” said the baroness, “fetch Dr. Aubertin.  There, I have sent her away.  So now tell me, why do you drive me back so?  Something has happened,” and she looked keenly from one to the other.

“O mamma! do not go that way:  there are strangers in the Pleasaunce.”

“Let me see.  So there are.  Call Jacintha back that I may order these people out of my premises.”  Josephine implored her to be calm.

“Be calm when impertinent intruders come into my garden?”

“Mother, they are not intruders.”

“What do you mean?”

“They have a right to be in our Pleasaunce.  They have bought the chateau.”

“It is impossible.  He was to buy it for us—­there is some mistake—­what man would kill a poor old woman like me?  I will speak to this gentleman:  he wears a sword.  Soldiers do not trample on women.  Ah! that man.”

The notary, attracted by her voice, was coming towards her, a paper in his hand.

Raynal coolly inspected the tree, and tapped it with his scabbard, and left Perrin to do the dirty work.  The notary took off his hat, and, with a malignant affectation of respect, presented the baroness with a paper.

The poor old thing took it with a courtesy, the effect of habit, and read it to her daughters as well as her emotion permitted, and the language, which was as new to her as the dialect of Cat Island to Columbus.

“Jean Raynal, domiciled by right, and lodging in fact at the Chateau of Beaurepaire, acting by the pursuit and diligence of Master Perrin, notary; I, Guillaume Le Gras, bailiff, give notice to Josephine Aglae St. Croix de Beaurepaire, commonly called the Baroness de Beaurepaire, having no known place of abode”—­

“Oh!”

“But lodging wrongfully at the said Chateau of Beaurepaire, that she is warned to decamp within twenty-four hours”—­

“To decamp!”

“Failing which that she will be thereto enforced in the manner for that case made and provided with the aid of all the officers and agents of the public force.”

“Ah! no, messieurs, pray do not use force.  I am frightened enough already.  I did not know I was doing anything wrong.  I have been here thirty years.  But, since Beaurepaire is sold, I comprehend perfectly that I must go.  It is just.  As you say, I am not in my own house.  I will go, gentlemen, I will go.  Whither shall I go, my children?  The house where you were born to me is ours no longer.  Excuse me, gentlemen—­this is nothing to you.  Ah! sir, you have revenged yourself on two weak women—­may Heaven forgive you!”