Volume III Part 60 (1/2)
I then went to see the rest offootmen, and the first of them told me he would see I had ine I wanted Then I inspectedcertain inary cure Finally, I took a walk round ate-keeper's, where I found a nuirls ere not to be despised I was delighted to hear everybody speak French, and I talked with theot back toive my linen to Mada, where there was a desk and allThis closet had only onefacing north, but it cohts I was a myself with the contemplation of this sublime prospect, when I heard a knock at my door It was my pretty housekeeper, ore a modest and pleasant expression, and did not in the least resemble a person who bears a complaint
”What can I do for you, h to order your man to be polite to me?”
”Certainly; how has he failed in politeness?”
”He ht possibly tell you in no respect He wanted to kissrather insolent”
”How?”
”By laughing at me You will pardon aht; they are sure to be either silly or malicious Make yourself easy; Le Duc shall understand that you are to be treated with respect You will please sup with me”
Le Duc came in soon after, and I told him to behave respectfully towards Madame Dubois
”She's a sly cat,” said the rascal; ”she wouldn't let me kiss her”
”I am afraid you are a bad fellow”
”Is she your servant or your ht be my wife”
”Oh! well, that's different That will do; Madame Dubois shall have all respect, and I will try my luck somewhere else”
I had a delicious supper I was contented with my cook, my butler, my housekeeper, and even with my Spaniard, aited capitally at table
After supper I sent out Le Duc and the other servant, and as soon as I was alone with my too lovely housekeeper, who had behaved at table like a woed her to tell h, and not very interesting I was--born at Lyons, and my relations tookat the ti about it My father, as in the service of Madame d'Ermance, left me an orphan when I was fourteen Mada that my mother's means were small she took me to live with her I had attained u as lady's maid, and some time after I was land, and three years after land affectedmy lady to allow me to leave her service The worthy lady saeak I was, and paid the expenses of my journey and loaded me with rich presents I returned to my mother at Lausanne, where lish lady as very fond of me, and would have taken me with her to Italy if she had not conceived so Duke of Rosebury, hoht in love withher rival in secret She senthow sorry she was she could not keep me I went back to my mother, and for two years I have lived with the toil of o M Lebel, the ambassador's steward, asked entle Italy, and this hope is the cause of my stupidity In short: here I a to?”
”The stupidity of having entered your service before I knew you”
”I like your freedom You would not have come, then, if you had not known me?”
”Certainly not, for no lady will ever takebeen with you”
”Why not? may I ask”
”Well, sir; do you think you are the kind of man to have a house-keeper likemy situation to be of quite a different nature?”
”No, you are too pretty, and I don't look like a fossil, certainly; but after all, what matter does it ht of it, and if I were in your place I would do the same; but how am I, who am a woman and not in an independent position, to set ulations of society?”
”You o back to Lausanne?”