During these days she was constantly thrown in the society of Louise, which had a tendency to make her still more rebellious.

The girl clung to Cerise in her helplessness and despair, and constantly implored her to set her free.

This, indeed, the Frenchwoman might have done long ago had she not suspected such an act might cause great embarrassment to Diana Von Taer, whom she had held on her knee as an infant and sought to protect with loyal affection.
It was hard, though, to hear the pitiful appeals of the imprisoned girl, and to realize how great was the wrong that was being done her.

The old woman was forced to set her jaws firmly and turn deaf ears to the pleadings in order not to succumb to them straightway.

Meantime she did her duty conscientiously.