Aurore was to become a lady and her playmate a lady's maid; but not _her_ maid, because the maid had become, of the two, the ruling spirit.

It was a question of grave debate in the mind of M.De Grapion what disposition to make of her.
About this time the Grandissimes and De Grapions, through certain efforts of Honore's father (since dead) were making some feeble pretences of mutual good feeling, and one of those Kentuckian dealers in corn and tobacco whose flatboat fleets were always drifting down the Mississippi, becoming one day M.De Grapion's transient guest, accidentally mentioned a wish of Agricola Fusilier.

Agricola, it appeared, had commissioned him to buy the most beautiful lady's maid that in his extended journeyings he might be able to find; he wanted to make her a gift to his niece, Honore's sister.

The Kentuckian saw the demand met in Aurore's playmate.

M.De Grapion would not sell her.
(Trade with a Grandissime?
Let them suspect he needed money ?) No; but he would ask Agricola to accept the services of the waiting-maid for, say, ten years.