I will never cease to think of you, and of some way to recompense the kindness you 'av shown for poor Madame.' My hand hung by my side, and she took, not it, but my thumb, and shook it, folded in her broad palm, and looking on me as she held it, as if meditating mischief.

Then suddenly she said-- 'You will always remember Madame, I _think_, and I will remind you of me beside; and for the present farewell, and I hope you may be as 'appy as you deserve.' The large sinister face looked on me for a second with its latent sneer, and then, with a sharp nod and a spasmodic shake of my imprisoned thumb, she turned, and holding her dress together, and showing her great bony ankles, she strode rapidly away over the gnarled roots into the perspective of the trees, and I did not awake, as it were, until she had quite disappeared in the distance.
Events of this kind made no difference with my father; but every other face in Knowl was gladdened by the removal.

My energies had returned, my spirits were come again.

The sunlight was happy, the flowers innocent, the songs and flutter of the birds once more gay, and all nature delightful and rejoicing.
After the first elation of relief, now and then a filmy shadow of Madame de la Rougierre would glide across the sunlight, and the remembrance of her menace return with an unexpected pang of fear.
'Well, if _there_ isn't impittens!' cried Mrs.Rusk.

'But never you trouble your head about it, Miss.