With a gasp, I too recovered from the fascination of the surprise. I could
not speak though for some seconds, and Madame was first.
'Ah, dear Maud, what surprise! Are we not overjoy, dearest, and cannot
speak? I am full of joy--quite charmed--_ravie_--of seeing you. So are you
of me, your face betray. Ah! yes, thou dear little baboon! here is poor
Madame once more! Who could have imagine?'
'I thought you were in France, Madame,' I said, with a dismal effort.
'And so I was, dear Maud; I 'av just arrive. Your uncle Silas he wrote to
the superioress for gouvernante to accompany a young lady--that is you,
Maud--on her journey, and she send me; and so, ma chere, here is poor
Madame arrive to charge herself of that affair.'
'How soon do we leave for France, Madame?' I asked.
'I do not know, but the old women--wat is her name?'
'Wyat,' I suggested.
'Oh! oui, Waiatt;--she says two, three week. And who conduct you to poor
Madame's apartment, my dear Maud?' She inquired insinuatingly.
'No one, I answered promptly: 'I reached it quite accidentally, and I
can't imagine why you should conceal yourself.
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