Part 30 (2/2)
”What does it mean?” she asked. ”What shall I do?”
It was indeed a perplexing situation,--after so hot a chase, and then to draw a blank.
But the news, which so discomfited her, was well enough to the taste of Count Jehan.
”The saints be praised, ma cousine,” he cried, taking her cold hand.
”It is evident that he has been delayed. We are in time to save Varenac from dishonour.”
Her face lighted with answering enthusiasm.
”Yes,” she said; ”what you say is true, Jehan. If Morice is not here, his ill-work is yet to do and I”--she nodded her head emphatically--”I can do something, seeing that I am as much Varenac as he.”
”Bravely spoken, Gabrielle. You are an angel. Ciel! and a heroine too. But----”
Even boyish enthusiasm perceived difficulties ahead, as he thought of this young girl here, unattended, save for an old nurse, at the Manor of Varenac with these others.
”Perhaps,” he added slowly, ”as your brother is not here, it were better did I take you to Kernak. The post-chaise is still at the door.”
But this suggestion did not find favour in the sight of little Mistress Gabrielle.
”My place is at Varenac,” she observed, with an air of amusing self-importance. ”I thank you, cousin, but I must stay here.”
”Alone?”
His faintly murmured expostulation met with wide-eyed surprise.
”Certainly not. These gentlemen will be here to ... to protect me.
And I have Nurse Bond.”
He dared say no more, though conscious that his mother would regard such an arrangement with horror.
”Perhaps to-morrow my sister Cecile will ride over with me,” he said, ”to stay with you as companion.”
”Yes, yes. Do bring her, Cousin Jehan. I am longing to see her.
There, I shall be looking forward so eagerly now for the morrow. And you are returning to Kernak to-night?”
”Unless I can be of service to you here?”
”I thank you heartily; but there is nothing to be done at present. I am very weary and shall go to bed. To-morrow----”
To-morrow! How each heart echoed the word with strangely mingled antic.i.p.ation.
”To-morrow,” replied Count Jehan, gravely bowing over his cousin's outstretched hand, ”I will bring Cecile to Varenac.”
”I shall welcome her gladly. And Morice will be here to-morrow?”
<script>