"Come, aunt, at once!" Had Marie-Anne, at that moment, been within the reach of Mlle.

de Courtornieu's voice, she would certainly have learned the secret of her former friend's anger and hatred.
But fate willed it otherwise.

At least three hundred yards of rough ground separated the place where Mlle.

Blanche had stationed herself, from the Lacheneur cottage.
It required a moment to cross this space; and that was time enough to change all the girl's intentions.
She had not traversed a quarter of the distance before she bitterly regretted having shown herself at all.

But to retrace her steps now was impossible, for Marie-Anne, who was still standing upon the threshold, had seen her approaching.
There remained barely time to regain her self-control, and to compose her features.