'Well, if _there_ isn't impittens!' cried Mrs. Rusk. 'But never you trouble
your head about it, Miss. Them sort's all alike--you never saw a rogue yet
that was found out and didn't threaten the honest folk as he was leaving
behind with all sorts; there was Martin the gamekeeper, and Jervis the
footman, I mind well how hard they swore all they would not do when they
was a-going, and who ever heard of them since? They always threatens that
way--them sort always does, and none ever the worse--not but she would if
she could, mind ye, but there it is; she can't do nothing but bite her
nails and cuss us--not she--ha, ha, ha!'
So I was comforted. But Madame's evil smile, nevertheless, from time to
time, would sail across my vision with a silent menace, and my spirits
sank, and a Fate, draped in black, whose face I could not see, took me by
the hand, and led me away, in the spirit, silently, on an awful exploration
from which I would rouse myself with a start, and Madame was gone for a
while.
She had, however, judged her little parting well. She contrived to leave
her glamour over me, and in my dreams she troubled me.
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