She would have been so delighted at the relief promised by your return that she would run to meet you and you would not have been repulsed at the door." "I daresay," replied Madame Clemenceau, frowning, and tapping the waxed wood floor impatiently with her foot.

"I did not care to announce my return home with a flourish of trumpets.

I was not averse to taking the house by surprise, and seeing what a transformation has gone on since I went away.

Besides, it is desirable, not to say necessary, that I should speak with you before seeing the others." Hedwig pouted a little.
"You ought to have written to me, madame, as we were agreed, I thought; I have been on tenderhooks because of your silence.

I did not even guess where you were." "I did not wish it known for a while, and even then, it appears, I spoke too soon," said Cesarine gloomily.
"You did not want me to know, madame ?" questioned the servant in surprise and with a trace of suspicion.
"Not even you," and hanging her head, she sank into meditation, not pleasant, to judge by her hopeless expression.
The servant, who had the phlegmatic brain of her people, was stupefied for a little time, then, recovering some vivacity, she inquired hesitatingly as though she was never at her ease with the subtle woman.
"Is madame going away without more than a glance around ?" "Why do you talk such nonsense ?" queried her mistress, looking up abruptly.
The girl intimated that the mysterious entrance portended secrecy to be preserved.