that had sealed her lot, and was so happy with her secret, so used to tell everything to Diane, so longing to talk of her husband, that she was afraid of betraying herself if once they were alone together.  Yet Diane, knowing that her father trusted to her to learn how far things had gone, and piqued at seeing the transparent little creature, now glowing and smiling with inward bliss, now pale, pensive, sighing, and anxious, and scorning her as too childish for the love that she seemed to affect, was resolved on obtaining confidence from her.

And when the whole female court had sat down to the silk embroidery in which Catherine de Medicis excelled, Diane seated herself in the recess of a window and beckoned her cousin to her side, so that it was not possible to disobey.

‘Little one,’ she said, ’why have you cast off your poor cousin?  There, sit down’—­for Eustacie stood, with her silk in her hand, as if meaning instantly to return to her former place; and now, her cheeks in a flame, she answered in an indignant whisper, ’You know, Diane!  How could you try to keep him from me?’

’Because it was better for thee, my child, than to be pestered with an adventurer,’ she said, smiling, though bitterly.

‘My husband!’ returned Eustacie proudly.

‘Bah!  You know better than that!’ Then, as Eustacie was about to speak, but checked herself, Diane added, ’Yes, my poor friend, he has a something engaging about him, and we all would have hindered you from the pain and embarrassment of a meeting with him.’

Eustacie smiled a little saucy smile, as though infinitely superior to them all.

‘Pauvre petite,’ said Diane, nettled; ’she actually believes in his love.’

‘I will not hear a word against my husband!’ said Eustacie, stepping back, as if to return to her place, but Diane rose and laid her hand on hers.  ‘My dear,’ she said, ’we must no part thus.  I only wish to know what touches my darling so nearly.  I thought she loved and clung to us; why should she have turned from me for the sake of one who forgot her for half his life?  What can he have done to master this silly little heart?’

‘I cannot tell you, Diane,’ said Eustacie, simply; and though she looked down, the colour on her face was more of a happy glow than a conscious blush.  ’I love him too much; only we understand each other now, and it is of no use to try to separate us.’

‘Ah, poor little thing, so she thinks,’ said Diane; and as Eustacie again smiled as one incapable of being shaken in her conviction, she added, ‘And how do you know that he loves you?’

Diane was startled by the bright eyes that flashed on her and the bright colour that made Eustacie perfectly beautiful, as she answered, ‘Because I am his wife!  That is enough!’ Then, before her cousin could speak again, ’But, Diane, I promised not to speak of it.  I know he would despise me if I broke my word, so I will not talk to you till I have leave to tell you all, and I am going back to help Gabrielle de Limeuil with her shepherdess.’