"What a lovely morning it is!" thought Jaqueline. "How pure and
delicious the water of this spring looks! As to what the old lady says
about its wonderful qualities, I can't believe that; but, however, I
will taste it. There! oh, how cool and refreshing!"
Suddenly there was heard the sound of a horn at a short distance, and a
moment after a hunting party came galloping toward the fountain.
Jaqueline would have hid herself, but it was too late; and ere she had
decided in what direction to make her escape, a young, handsome,
elegantly dressed cavalier, who led the party, threw himself from his
horse, and, respectfully approaching her, begged that she would not be
alarmed.
"Thank ye!" said Jaqueline; "no, I an't frightened; only I stopped just
to see which way you was a-galloping, because I don't want to be run
over."
"Charming creature!" exclaimed the cavalier, "do you suppose it possible
that any human being would hurt a hair of your head?"
"I don't know about that," replied Jaqueline. "All as I can say is, that
I don't know any reason why they should; for I never did no harm to
nobody as I know of."
"Never, I am sure," said the young man. "No; innocence and benevolence
are too plainly expressed in every feature of that lovely countenance.
May I crave to know by what happy chance you have been led to this
sequestered spot?"
"I can't see exactly as that's any business of yours," replied
Jaqueline; "howsomever, if you must know, I'm going to the Cock and
Bottle in the high-road, where I hope to find a _patache_ to take me to
Moulins; so, as the good old dame is asleep, and I don't like to wake
her, if you or some of your people will direct me, I shall feel obliged
to you: but I'll thank you not to give me no more of your fine speeches,
that's all."
"A miracle! She despises flattery!" exclaimed the enraptured youth,
clasping his hands together; and then, without farther ceremony, he
threw himself upon his knees, made a regular fervent offer of himself
and fortune, declared himself to be the Comte Henri de Montjeu, and,
seizing the hard hand of his inamorata, pressed it to his lips.
"Drat the man! He's mad!" cried Jaqueline, attempting to extricate her
hand; but, the moment after, finding that he did not bite it, she
allowed it to remain where it was, and, heaving a sigh of compassion,
said to herself, "What a pity! He is so very handsome!"
"Ha!" exclaimed the Comte, "you sigh! You pity me, and pity is--Well,
well. What more can I expect at present? I have been rash. I have
alarmed you, I fear; but henceforth I will be calm," and he got up and
gave himself a violent slap on the forehead to prove his intention.
"Ah!" thought Jaqueline, "you may knock, but there's nobody at home, I
guess. Bless my heart! what a pity, so handsome as you are!"
"I will believe that by time and opportunity, and the most devoted
attentions, I may at length hope to excite an interest in your heart?"
said the Comte inquiringly, and again taking her hand.
"The best way is to humour him, I suppose," thought Jaqueline, as she
replied, "Very likely you may, for I can't say but I'm sorry for you.
Howsomever, you must mind and behave yourself."
This encouragement exhilarated the Comte so powerfully, that, after
uttering sundry brief rhapsodies, his lips approached so near her
sunburnt cheeks, that he seemed on the point of forgetting her
injunctions concerning his behaviour, when she called him to order by
the ejaculation of "Paws off!" on hearing which he bowed low, and
retired to give certain instructions to his followers. These were
executed with wonderful rapidity; for Jaqueline had barely time to tuck
up and adjust her clothes for running, or, as she called it, "make a
bolt," when she found herself surrounded by the horsemen, one of whom,
the ugliest of the lot, was mounted before a pillion, upon which the
Comte begged he might have the honour of placing her. To this, after
some demur, she submitted, because escape on foot now seemed impossible;
but no sooner had she taken her seat, than she whispered in the ear of
the man before her, "Your master's mad, that's clear. So contrive, if
you can, to let us get away from him; and if you take me safe to the
Cock and Bottle, I'll not stand upon trifles, but make it worth your
while. What d'ye say?"
"What do I say?" replied the man, in the same low tone, and looking
round with a most hideous leer. "I say that I wouldn't mind going all
over the world for you, without fee or reward, except, perhaps"--(and he
smacked his thick wide lips too significantly)--"for I'm blessed if you
ain't just about the nicest girl I ever clapped my eyes on." And again
he leered so frightfully, that Jaqueline would have jumped down had she
not been strapped to the pillion.
"The holy Virgin protect me," she murmured; "what sort of folks have I
got among?" and she looked round timidly, but could discern no cause for
alarm, unless it were that the eyes of all the party seemed fixed upon
her, and every countenance was expressive of deep admiration. This was
certainly a sort of homage to which she had been unused, and probably,
on that account, acted more strongly on her feelings; for she
immediately decided that such handsome, agreeable faces could belong
only to men utterly devoid of evil intentions. Having thus made up her
mind, she rather enjoyed the first part of her ride, as they bounded
along merrily across the country, and the Comte rode by her side, ever
and anon making observations and complimentary speeches, to which she
usually replied by hoping that they were in the right road to the Cock
and Bottle.
"_Soyez tranquille!_" was his invariable answer to that question; and so
they held on their way, till they arrived at a large house, into the
courtyard of which he led the cavalcade, and then, dismounting from his
horse, he informed her that she was at her journey's end, and assisted
her to alight at the principal entrance, which seemed to her more fit
for a palace than an inn.
"You will please to take every care of this young lady, for my sake, my
good Madame Rigaud," said the Comte to an elderly female, who stood,
with several livery servants, in the hall.
"This way, Mademoiselle," said the said housekeeper, with a curtsy, and
she led Jaqueline through divers passages and elegant apartments, at
which she marvelled exceedingly, although she had heard strange stories
of the magnificence of certain large hotels in Paris and elsewhere. But
the splendour of the chamber into which she was at last ushered was
quite overpowering, and she stood gazing at the profusion of rich velvet
and silk surrounding her, till roused by Madame Rigaud's request to be
favoured with her commands.
"Bless your heart, my good madame!" exclaimed Jaqueline, "this is no
place for me! I'm only a small farmer's daughter. So just have the
goodness to show me the way into the kitchen, and let me have a basin of
soup and boulli, if there happens to be any, till the next _patache_
comes by for me to make a bargain to go to Moulins."
Madame Rigaud replied, that no vehicles of that description ever passed
the place; and an explanation followed, from which it appeared that
Jaqueline was in the new chateau of the Comte, and some leagues farther
from the Cock and Bottle than when she commenced her ride.
"How could he think of serving me such a trick?" she gasped, sinking
into one of the velvet chairs, and all but sobbing. "He's mad, isn't
he?"
"I should almost think he is," said Madame Rigaud. "To be sure, there is
no accounting for the tricks of young men, I know that pretty well; nor
their fancies neither; but _this_ is so _very_ extraordinary!" and,
looking down upon her charge, she elevated her hands and then her eyes,
and shrugged her shoulders expressively.
"I'll not stay here; I'm determined upon that!" exclaimed Jaqueline.
"That's right, my dear," said Madame Rigaud; and forthwith they
concocted a plan of escape, which was to be carried into effect by the
aid of Madame Rigaud's son Philippe, who was in the Comte's service; and
in the meanwhile they retired to her private room to avoid observation;
and there the said Philippe, a smart, active young man, presently made
his appearance.
"It's a burning shame," he cried, when he had heard the story; "but I'll
see Ma'mselle safe to the Cock and Bottle, and to Moulins too, if she
will allow me. So, mother, you must go directly to the stables, and tell
Pierre to put the side-saddle on the strawberry mare, and let me have
Volante. Nobody will suspect you; and, by the time you come back, the
Comte's breakfast will be served, and the footman will be engaged in
waiting, and then Ma'mselle and I can slip off unnoticed. Courage!" and
he laughed, and slapped his thigh right jovially. But the moment his
mother had disappeared and closed the door, his demeanour was totally
changed, and making a serious face, and putting his hand on his heart,
he bent his body forward most obsequiously, and then went upon his knees
before Jaqueline, and vowed after a very solemn fashion, that not only
would he conduct her to Moulins, but that it would give him the greatest
of all possible satisfaction to accompany her throughout the whole
journey of life.
"Do you suppose I'm going to ride on horseback all my days?" inquired
the bewildered maid; "no, no. All I want is to get safe to the Cock and
Bottle. But you'd better get up, and not make such a fool of yourself;
for don't you see that the floor has been fresh ruddled, and you'll
stain your best----"
Here her speech was cut short, and the scene abruptly changed, by the
sudden opening of the door, and the appearance of a remarkably fat,
red-faced, profusely powdered, well-dressed man of "a certain age," who,
the moment he caught sight of Jaqueline, seemed fixed to the spot where
he stood, with his eyes riveted upon her countenance. Whether he had
observed Philippe's position was doubtful, as that sprightly youth had
jumped upon his feet at the first movement of the door, and stood
sheepishly against the wall, twirling his thumbs; a task from which he
was speedily relieved by the advance of the new-comer, who dismissed him
from the room by a silent, authoritative wave of the hand.
"This must be the old Comte," thought Jaqueline, rising and bobbing her
best curtsy. "No wonder he is surprised to see the like of me here; but
I'll tell him all about it, and I daresay he'll be glad enough to send
me off to the Cock and Bottle, if it's only to get rid of me."
"Oh! I beg, I entreat, Mademoiselle," gasped the unwieldy stranger; and
as he spake he continued a series of short bows, ducking his red face as
forward as he dare, without danger of destroying the equilibrium of his
body. "Oh, Mademoiselle! Pray do not disturb yourself. It is a mistake,
quite. Ah! Monsieur le Comte requests--oh, oh! Pray, be seated! Ugh!
ugh! What can I say? What shall I do? I never was so perplexed in my
life before. Oh! You will never forgive!"
"Yes, but I will, though," said Jaqueline; "I'll forgive all that's
past, if you will but get me out of the way of your son."
"My son!" exclaimed the fat man; "Eh? How came Mademoiselle to know that
I had a son? And he, the young rascal! has he dared to aspire so high? I
could not have supposed him capable of such audacity!"
"Couldn't you?" observed Jaqueline; "well, then, you ought to look
after him better, and not let him go playing such precious tricks as he
has with me this morning, deceiving me first by talking all sorts of
nonsense, and then bumping me about the country on horseback, till I
declare I'm quite uncomfortable."
The eyes of the huge red face before her here became dilated to an
extraordinary degree; but the mental perception of their owner appeared
to be eclipsed, as he stood with puffed-out cheek discharging his breath
violently through his pursed-up mouth, as though playing upon a trumpet.
"It's no use being in a passion about it now," continued Jaqueline;
"what's done can't be helped; and if you'll only see me safe to the Cock
and Bottle----"
"What, I!" exclaimed the stout gentleman; "may I venture to hope that
you will condescend to accept of my humble services?"
"To be sure I will," replied Jaqueline, "and thank you too. Why not?"
"Oh! this is too much happiness!" sighed the panting elderly beau, and
forthwith, by the help of a chair, he lowered himself down upon his
knees, and then attempted to seize the maiden's hand; but she somewhat
too nimbly moved her chair and self backward, and thereby caused him to
fall forward on all-fours, in which position he was when Madame Rigaud
suddenly re-entered, and exclaimed--"Ah! Monsieur Robert! what can be
the matter?"
"I'm afraid the poor gentleman is taken suddenly ill," replied
Jaqueline.
"What presence of mind! what angelic--humph!" muttered the patient,
looking up, and winking in a very odd way at the maiden.
Madame Rigaud declared that it was of no kind of use for them to try to
lift him up, so she lifted up her voice, and presently the room was
crowded; for Monsieur Robert was no less a personage than the
house-steward, or maitre-d'hotel, who had been sent by the Comte to
desire Madame Rigaud to inform the young lady that breakfast was served,
and her presence to grace that meal was most respectfully requested, and
anxiously desired.
Of this invitation Jaqueline was not made aware until the apoplectic
invalid had been placed upon a sofa, and contrived to catch hold of one
of her hands, and pinch it sadly. "Ah! I'm quite well now!" he
exclaimed, "it was only a momentary--ah! I don't know what;" and, rising
briskly, he ordered all present to leave the room, as he had something
particular to say to the young lady. The domestics instantly withdrew;
but Madame Rigaud remained, and whispered to Jaqueline that the horses
would be ready in ten minutes, and then, in a louder tone, proposed that
they should take breakfast together immediately.
At this proposition Monsieur Robert appeared much shocked, and spake
incoherently about proper respect, and the Comte's particular desire,
and his own most perfect devotion to the service of Mademoiselle; to
which she replied--"You may as well save your breath to cool your broth,
old gentleman. I've had quite enough of the Comte's tricks already this
morning; and as for your services, they're of no use to me."
"Oh, cruel!" groaned Monsieur Robert. "Did you not just now accept them,
and even condescend to request me to see you safe to some place?"
"Well, well, I don't want you now," said Jaqueline; "I've got an active
young man, who will do a great deal better."
"Oh! how cruelly capricious!" he sighed, and the great red face was
turned upward as he clasped his hands imploringly, and he was striving,
no doubt, to concoct something very pathetic, when the young Comte burst
in upon them, and began, in no measured terms, to upbraid Madame Rigaud
for her misconduct in allowing his distinguished visitor to occupy any
other than the best apartments. He then apologised to Jaqueline, and
taking her hand, and bowing respectfully, led her out of the room toward
the _salle a manger_, from whence issued certain savoury odours, which
operated more powerfully upon the hungry maiden than could all the fine
speeches he continued to utter. So, determined to make a good
breakfast, to strengthen her for her flight with Philippe, she allowed
herself to be conducted into the elegant apartment, where she was
received by the company with as much deference as though she had been a
princess. The party consisted of half-a-dozen persons; and as there were
no other ladies present, she was the great object of attention. The
Comte gallantly pressed her to partake of certain delicacies at table;
and, when she laconically expressed her approbation thereof, seemed
quite in ecstasy. One gentleman complimented her upon patronising the
dress of the country, and thereby evincing a purity of taste far
superior to that of ladies who fancy nothing becoming unless brought
from Paris. "Ah!" sighed another, "with such personal attractions,
Mademoiselle has little need to trouble herself about fashions."--"No,"
said Jaqueline; "that's the mantua-makers' and milliners' business, not
mine; I never trouble my head about such things, not I."--"What
elevation of mind!" exclaimed the Comte.--"How infinitely above vulgar
prejudices!" ejaculated one of his companions; and the rest expressed
their admiration by the epithets "charming," "admirable," &c. &c. In
short, everything she uttered was declared to be replete with wit or
sentiment; and the result was, that by the time she had finished a very
hearty _dejeune a la fourchette_, she began to question whether she
really might not possess certain endowments for which she had never
previously given herself credit, and had not quite decided, when the
Comte contrived to draw her attention toward a window, and so have her
to himself. He then, without loss of time, made her a regular offer of
himself, his chateau, and his fortune; and Jaqueline replied with a
sigh, "I don't think I shall do for you, nor you for me; but,
howsomever, I can't say nothing more about it without asking my father."
"I'll ask him!" exclaimed the enraptured Comte; "I'll ride over to him
directly. I'll bring him back to dinner. We have a priest in the
chateau," and he knelt and pressed her hand to his lips.
"Well, upon my word!" said Jaqueline, "some people fancy they've only to
ask and have. Just as if my father would give me away like a bunch of
grapes."
"What an admirable simile!" exclaimed the Comte. "Yes, a bunch of
grapes, sound, ripe, beautiful to the eye, exquisite in flavour,
blooming, delicate to the touch----"
"Better not try," muttered Jaqueline, for, as he spake, he rose up and
approached rather too near. "Paws off! as I told you before, or you'll
catch it presently," and she pushed him away with a vigour seldom
displayed by ladies of his own rank.
"This is too much!" exclaimed one of the party, rushing forward.
"Monsieur le Comte, you forget yourself strangely. No man can stand
tamely by, and see such innocence and beauty annoyed. You must perceive
that your attentions are unwelcome, and I insist upon it that you
proceed no farther. Don't be alarmed, Mademoiselle, I will protect you."
"You insist!" cried the Comte, scowling fiercely. "It is you who forget
yourself, Monsieur le Capitaine, when you dare to address such language
to me."
"Dare!" shouted the captain; "for this lady's sake I would dare a
thousand such miserables."
"I think a walk into the open air may be of service to you," observed
the Comte, pointing significantly to the door.
"Good!" replied the captain, and after bowing respectfully to Jaqueline,
he withdrew, and was almost immediately followed by the Comte and two
more of the party, leaving only a dapper thin little gentleman dressed
in black, who immediately strutted up to our heroine, and, laying his
hand upon his left breast, began to hem and cough, and looked
exceedingly perplexed and miserable. "What's the matter with _you_?"
thought Jaqueline; "you look as if you had eaten something that had
disagreed with you."
"That benevolent glance has revived me!" exclaimed the small gentleman.
"Ah, mademoiselle! I have struggled hard. The Comte is my patron. I
would not be ungrateful; but--but--I am convinced that a lady of your
delicate perceptions, of your incomparable--Oh! what shall I say? I am a
notary, and seldom want words--but on this occasion they seem to fail
me. I mean to say that I am firmly convinced that neither my friend the
Comte nor his boisterous comrades are fit or capable of--ahem! In short,
a quiet life, with one who would do his utmost to secure your
affections, to merit your esteem, and to promote your happiness, is----"
"Just the very thing I should like," said Jaqueline; "but the question
is, where to find him."
"Behold him here!" exclaimed the notary, dropping on his knees. "Never
before did this heart surrender to beauty. Hitherto my whole soul has
been given to making money, without being very particular how, I must
own; but now, all is changed! There is about you an irresistible
charm----"
"Ah!" shrieked Jaqueline, "so there is! I see it all now! It's all along
of that water I drank this morning. Get out of the way, do!" and,
rushing past him, she ran off to the room of Madame Rigaud, whom she
earnestly entreated to introduce her to the priest of the family without
loss of time. "I shall place myself under his protection," said she.
"The resolution does you great credit," observed Madame Rigaud. "He will
attend you here immediately, I am sure; for he is an excellent man, and
always delighted to do good."
About five minutes after, as Jaqueline was standing alone before a
mirror, endeavouring vainly to discover what change in her appearance
had caused such a marvellous change in the manners of the men toward
her, the door slowly opened, and a venerable grey-haired ecclesiastic
stood gazing upon her in respectful silence.
"Ah! Father Dunstan!" she exclaimed joyously, "is that you? Oh! I am so
rejoiced to see you! Don't you know me?"
"Really, Mademoiselle," said the holy man, nervously, "there must be
some mistake. If I had ever had the honour of being introduced to you, I
am sure I could not have forgotten----"
"No, I can't be mistaken," observed Jaqueline, "only I'm grown a good
deal since you left St Denis. Many a time you've dandled me on your
knee; but I suppose I'm too heavy for that now; so come, sit down, and
I'll take a chair beside you, or perhaps I ought to go upon my knees,
for it is a sort of confession that I've got to make, though really I
didn't think there could be any great harm in just drinking a little
water. However, you'll tell me what to do, I know; for you were always
very kind and indulgent, though you used to thump me on the back, and
laugh at me for romping, and say that I was too strong for a girl, and
ought to have been a boy."
"Is it possible?" exclaimed the bewildered priest.
"Perfectly true, _mon bon pere_," said our heroine. "Look at me again.
There, I am your old play-fellow, Jaqueline Triquet."
"Is it possible!" repeated the good man, elevating his hands and eyes in
especial wonder.
Jaqueline then told her tale, and in conclusion, said, "And now, my good
father, I place myself under your protection, and hope you will take me
away from this place, and all the strange people about it. I'll go
anywhere with you; but had rather go to the Cock and Bottle, because
there I shall be sure to find a _patache_ to take me to Moulins."
"My dear child," said the priest fervently, "I will go with thee; I will
protect thee; but while I am preparing for our departure, thou must
leave this room, where thou art liable to intrusions, and I will place
thee in the charge of good Madame Rigaud."
Jaqueline was accordingly removed to a more private apartment, where she
awaited the priest's summons in great uneasiness, as Madame Rigaud, who
was not particularly taciturn, visited her from time to time with
strange accounts of what had passed, and was then going on among the
household, all in consequence of her untoward presence therein.
It seemed that the Comte had wounded his friend the Captain, and that,
while he was so laudably engaged, a footman, anxious to gaze upon the
charms of the bewitching fair one, had peeped through the opening of the
half-closed door of the _salon_, and witnessed the scene between her and
the amorous notary, the particulars of which he whispered to his master
on his triumphant return. The Comte thereupon rushed furiously forward,
and, discovering the luckless limb of the law still upon his knees, and
apparently paralysed by Jaqueline's abrupt retreat, without any ceremony
bestowed upon him sundry hard names and one particularly ugly kick, by
the latter of which the little gentleman was so thrown off his guard as
to abandon the chance of a lucrative legal process, and to demand
satisfaction instanter. It was given, and the Comte was wounded; and
then the notary, feeling that his suit was in no degree advanced by this
display of his prowess, and yet smarting under the mortification
consequent upon our heroine's style of receiving his addresses, most
unadvisedly spake of her after the fashion of the fox in the fable, when
he found that the grapes were above his reach. This produced certain
sarcastic observations from another of the party, which led to a fresh
encounter, that terminated by the legal functionary's being disarmed
with a violent sprain in his right wrist.
Then, in the lower department, much altercation had taken place.
Monsieur Robert thought proper to call Philippe Rigaud a young puppy;
and Philippe, instead of acknowledging his puppyism, as in duty bound,
to his superior, vehemently apostrophised him as an old fool. The female
domestics were all scandalised beyond measure at the blindness and
stupidity of their sweethearts in particular, and the men-servants
generally, in admiring an awkward country-girl, as some called our
heroine; but all agreed in pronouncing her to be "no great things."
At length Jaqueline and Father Dunstan took their departure through a
private road from the back of the chateau, and rode in silence, side by
side, for nearly a league, when Jaqueline expressed her sorrow for the
disasters and quarrels that have just been related.
"It was no fault of thine, my child," observed the priest; "it is ever
thus when women are so exceedingly beautiful. Men don't know what to do
with themselves. Heigho!"
"La, Father Dunstan!" exclaimed Jaqueline, "what can that have to do
with the present case? I'm no beauty, that's certain, or some of our
young fellows would have found it out long ago. You used to say yourself
that I was more fit for a boy; and latterly I've been thinking the same,
and had a great mind, since nobody would come a-courting to me, to dress
myself up like a man, and try my luck that way."
"Most exceedingly dull and stupid must the young men about St Denis be
in the present generation!" said Father Dunstan. "But you'll find it
very different at Moulins. Heigho!" and they rode on in silence for a
considerable distance, and then Jaqueline exclaimed, "Why, this is the
same way that I was brought this morning! Yes. And there I declare is
part of the old castle, peeping above the trees. We shan't get to the
Cock and Bottle to-night at this rate! But, bless us, _mon bon pere_,
what's the matter with you? Aren't you well?"
"Not exactly, my dear," replied the priest; "I feel a very peculiar
sensation in my pericardium, and a dizziness about the head."
"Can I do anything for you?" inquired Jaqueline.
"I think," said Father Dunstan, "nay, I am sure that it would do me good
to hear you talk a little, my dear Mademoiselle."
"Very well," replied Jaqueline, "I don't mind talking a great deal, if
that will be of any service: but what must it be about?"
"Anything. Only speak kindly."
"Speak kindly! why, how can I speak in any other way to such a nice good
old man as you are?"
"No, no, not very old. Don't talk so," said the priest, reproachfully.
"Well then, I won't," continued Jaqueline--"for I'll please you, if I
can; and, now I look at you again, really I shouldn't have thought
you'd been so old as you are, if I didn't remember that, when I was a
child, you looked much the same as you do now; and I've heard my father
say----"
"Never mind what, my dear. Don't mention it."
"Very well, father, then I've done, though I can't see how it signifies
about your age, when you are so hearty and strong as you are."
"Do you really think so?" inquired the delighted priest.
"Why, of course. One has only to look at you, and see that plain
enough," said Jaqueline; and then, perceiving the sort of talk that
was most likely to be agreeable to her companion, she continued to
compliment him upon his good looks till they arrived at the ruins.
The old lady was absent; but Father Dunstan said he knew her well, and
that she would be very angry if he did not make himself quite at home.
So he prevailed upon Jaqueline to consider herself as his guest till
their hostess's return; and bestirring himself with the alacrity of a
youth, he had put up the horses, spread the table-cloth, lighted the
fire, and was beating up an omelet, before Jaqueline had finished
her simple toilet. When she expressed her wish to take the culinary
department, he gently, but firmly and respectfully, requested her to
take a seat, and let him have his own way, which she accordingly did,
marvelling exceedingly at his dexterity and accurate knowledge of the
contents of the old lady's larder, and the spot in which everything
was kept.
In due time they sate down to dine, and his attention to her during the
meal was excessive, and therefore tiresome to one unused to form and
ceremony. So, when it was finished, she reminded him of his old habit
of taking a nap in the afternoon, and recommended him to do so on the
present occasion, hinting, at the same time, her hope that, when he
had so refreshed himself, he would be ready to escort her to the Cock
and Bottle. But at this last suggestion he shook his head, and said
something about the horses being tired, and then yawned and took a glass
of wine, and then yawned again, and so on till he fell asleep.
"I think I'll go and lie down, and do the same," thought Jaqueline, "for
I'm dreadfully fatigued with all this riding"--and she betook herself to
the little dormitory in which she had been installed by the old lady on
the preceding night; and after gaping once or twice, and wondering when
she should get to the Cock and Bottle, she lost sight of her cares--and
the next question she had occasion to ask herself was, "How long have I
been asleep?"
It is a question which, after fatigue, we have all occasionally found
it very difficult to answer. Jaqueline rubbed her eyes, and repeated
it aloud, and greatly was she astonished to receive a reply in the
well-known tones of Father Dunstan, who was seated by her bedside. "You
have slept soundly, my dear. It is now morning. I have kept watch over
you, as I hope always to be permitted to do hereafter. Heigho!"
"La! Father Dunstan!" exclaimed Jaqueline, shrinking under the
coverlet--"surely this is very improper conduct, although you are such
a very old man."
"No, no," cried the priest, "I am not an old man. I feel that I am not.
You will be very happy with me, and without you I cannot live. I have
not slept a wink all night for thinking of you, and have made up my
mind. It is of no use for you to refuse, as I've got you here in the
middle of the forest. So agree at once to go with me to England, where
priests are allowed to marry, and you will never repent it. Beautiful,
beautiful creature as you are, I shall never cease to adore you!"
"You horrid, wicked old wretch!" shrieked Jaqueline, "get along out of
the room immediately, or, if you don't, mind I have not taken off my
clothes: I'll get up and give your old bones such a shaking--I will. Eh!
What! You'd hold me down would you? Let go the clothes, will you! If I
do but get my hands loose, I'll scratch your eyes out, I will, you ugly
old--old--old monster! What! You'd smother me, would you? Help, help,
murder!" and making a violent effort as she shrieked, she felt herself
suddenly released from the incumbent pressure.
"Oh, he's gone, is he!" she exclaimed, breathing hard after the
struggle, and looking round the room, "better for him, or else I'd
have--but bless me! I am undressed, after all! How very strange that
I don't recollect----"
Here she was agreeably surprised by the appearance of her kind hostess,
who came running into the room in great apparent alarm, to inquire
what was the matter. The explanation that followed, consisted of the
adventures which have been related; and when the old lady had heard them
to the end, she remarked, with an odd sort of smile--"Well, never mind,
my dear, you are safe out of their clutches now; so dress yourself, and
come down to breakfast, for it is very near eight o'clock; but I did not
call you before, as you seemed so sound asleep; and now I know what's
happened, I don't wonder."