"That's over; I was sure that it would come out all right."

Young Ernestine next took Louise to a pretty little room which was to be her own. The sweet child made sure that her new maid was provided with everything that she needed, and displayed so much interest in her that Louise, who was deeply touched, thanked heaven for bringing her to that house.

The first day was employed by Ernestine in giving instructions to Louise, and she, not knowing how to lie, frankly confessed to her young mistress that she was entirely ignorant of the duties of her position, and that she must beg her to be as indulgent as possible. Ernestine repeated emphatically that she would have no difficulty in training her and that she need not worry.

In Monsieur de Noirmont's family, the valet ordinarily waited at table, unless there were many guests at dinner; so that the duties of the lady's maid were limited to waiting on the two ladies, a.s.sisting them to dress, and working almost all the time for them, or at some household work.

Louise could sew very well; she was active and clever, and she very soon learned what was expected of her; moreover, Ernestine taught her to embroider, to make tapestry, and to do innumerable little things that women do; things which are unknown in villages, but which it is essential to know in Paris.

Louise made rapid progress, and Ernestine said to her father:

"Oh! if you knew how much I like my maid!"

"Is she so very clever?" inquired Monsieur de Noirmont.

"Clever--yes; but she knew nothing at all; I have shown her everything."

"What do you say? that girl knew nothing?"

"What difference does it make? When I show her anything, in two days she does it better than I do. Oh! I am sure that mamma will congratulate me for engaging her."

Louise's modest and serious manner eventually won Monsieur de Noirmont's good-will as well as his daughter's, and he spoke to her less coldly.

Comtois was delighted with his new fellow-servant, and the cook was never tired of extolling her extreme sweetness of temper. As for Ernestine, although she sometimes lost her patience and cried out, when her maid was awkward about dressing her, the next moment she would run to her and kiss her, and beg her not to be offended by her quick temper.

In fact, each day that pa.s.sed increased her affection for Louise, and the latter would have been happy in her new position, had not the thought of Cherubin constantly filled her mind. But she was beginning to lose all hope of seeing him in Paris, for she very rarely left the house, and only to do errands for her young mistress in the shops nearby.

Louise had been in Ernestine's service three weeks, when her mistress said to her one morning:

"Mamma is coming home at last! Papa has just told me that she will be here in three days. I am awfully glad, for she has been away nearly six weeks, and I long to see her. Oh! what joy! Then I shall have everything I want. And mamma will like you too; I am sure that she will be as pleased with you as I am."

Louise made no reply, but she felt deeply moved; she could not understand her own perturbation when she learned that she was to see Madame de Noirmont.

XXI

THE FIRST RENDEZVOUS.--THE PERFUMERY

Cherubin followed Darena's advice; he wrote a very amorous, but very timid, note for the young woman he had seen at the play. On the following day Darena called upon his friend in good season and found him finishing his lovelorn espistle.

"Are you writing to the lovely foreigner?" asked Darena, dropping into an easy-chair.

"Yes, my dear fellow, I have just finished my letter, which you have promised to forward to its destination."

"Parbleu! cannot one do anything with money? Do not all obstacles vanish before it? Valets, maid-servants can be bribed, duennas and concierges corrupted. I will spend money in profusion."

As he spoke, the count slapped his pockets, then exclaimed:

"But in order to spend it, I must have it, and I find that my pockets are empty."

Cherubin went to his desk and took out several rouleaux of gold pieces, which he handed to Darena, saying:

"Take this, my dear fellow, take this; don't spare it. Reward generously all who help to forward my love."

"You do not need to give me that injunction; I will play the magnificent, the Buckingham! After all, you are rich, and if you did not use your fortune to gratify your wishes, really it wouldn't be worth while to have it. Is your note very ardent?"

"Why, I think that it is very honorable----"

"Honorable! that's not what we want, my dear friend.--Come, read me what you have written, and let me see if it's all right."

Cherubin took up the letter and read:

"'I ask your pardon, madame, for the liberty that I take in writing you, but----'"

Darena's roar of laughter interrupted Cherubin, who inquired:

"What are you laughing at? Isn't it all right?"

"Ha! ha! ha! Your innocence is enchanting; one would think that it was a letter from a boy to his aunt on her birthday. Let's hear the rest."

Cherubin continued:

"'But I should deem myself most fortunate if I might have the pleasure of making your acquaintance. My family is well known, I am received in the best society, and----'"

"Enough! enough!" cried Darena, rising. "That won't do, my dear fellow; you are on the wrong track!"

"Do you think that my letter is too bold?"

"On the contrary, it isn't bold enough! She would laugh at you when she read it."

"Remember that this is the first time I ever wrote a billet-doux, and I don't know how they are usually expressed."

"Take your pen again and write what I dictate."

"All right, I prefer that."

Cherubin seated himself at his desk again and Darena dictated:

"O woman more than adored! I burn, I wither, I languish! Your eyes are the flame, your smile the brazier, my heart the conflagration!

You have set fire to my whole being. A word of love, of hope, or I will not answer for the consequences--I will kill myself at your feet, before your eyes, in your arms! Derision! d.a.m.nation! if you do not answer!"

Cherubin ceased to write.

"Great heaven, my dear count!" he exclaimed; "why, that is horrible!"

"It is what you need."