As for my mother, she thought it only an overflow of zeal for the honour of the family, and held it to be my fault that her dear son had been driven to such measures.  Nothing was bad enough for the Ommaneys!  Nothing would restore my reputation but marrying the little Chevalier at Easter.  And in the midst, just as Eustace was a little better, and there was no excuse for refusing to obey the drag of her chains, Margaret was summoned away to attend on her absurd Princess, who was going to Orleans, by way of keeping the Cardinal’s forces out of her father’s city.

Margaret had kept things straight.  I do not know how it was, but peace always went away with her; and my mother did things she never attempted when the real lady of the house was at home.  And yet I might thank my own hasty folly for much of what befell.

Eustace was much better, sitting up in his night-gown by the fire, and ready, as I thought, to talk over everything, and redress my wrongs, or at least comfort the wretchedness that had grown upon me daily since that miserable quarrel with Clement.  I poured it all out, and even was mad enough to say it was his fault for delaying so long the journey to the Hague.  Clement, who had been well-nigh ready to join us and be a good Protestant, was going back to the old delusions, and taking office under the Government; and even if the bravoes had not killed him, he would be spoilt for any honest Englishwoman; and I might as well take that miserable little schoolboy, which I supposed was all my brother wished.  Then the estate would be safe enough.

Eustace could only assure me that the delay was as grievous to him as to me. indeed, as I could see in a more reasonable mood, he had been unable to get from Ribaumont the moneys needful for the journey, the steward not venturing to send them while the roads were so unsafe; but when he begged me to have patience, it seemed to sting my headstrong temper, and I broke out in some such words as these:  ’Patience!  Patience!  I am sick of it.  Thanks to your patience, I have lost Clement.  They have all but murdered him! and for yourself, you had better take care Millicent van Hunker does not think that such patience is only too easy when she has neither wealth nor beauty left!’

‘Hush, Annora,’ he answered, with authority and severity in his tone, but not half what I deserved; ’there is great excuse for you, but I cannot permit such things to be said.’

Here Tryphena came in and scolded me for making him talk; I saw how flushed he was, and became somewhat frightened.  They sent me away, and oh! how long it was ere I was allowed to see him again!  For in the morning, after a night of repenting and grieving over my heat, and longing to apologise for having reproached him for the delay which was as grievous to him as to me, the first thing I heard was that M. le Baron was much worse; he had had a night of fever; there was more bleeding, and much difficulty of breathing.  My mother was with him, and I was on no account to be admitted.