But I am old and wise, and I would advise that two maids so fair should not look down on the sports of the youths, lest they hear and see more than is fitting for such innocent eyes." The girls turned away without looking at their custodian, who stood leaning upon her little hand crutch and smiling upon them her terrible soft smile.
"Ah," she said, "proud, are you?
'Tis an ill place to bring pride to, this Castle of Machecoul.

You will not deign to speak a word to a poor old woman now.

But the day is not far distant when I shall have my pretty spitfire clinging about these old trembling knees, and beseeching me whom you despise, as a woman either to save you or kill you--you will not care which.

_As a woman!_ Ha! ha! How long is it since La Meffraye was a woman?
Was she ever rocked in a cradle?
Did she play about any cottage door and fashion daisy chains, as I have seen you do, my pretties, long ere you came to Machecoul or even heard of the Sieur de Retz?
Hath La Meffraye ever lain in any man's bosom--save as the tigress crouches upon her prey ?" She paused and smiled still more bitterly and malevolently than before upon the two maidens.
"Did you chance to be awake yester-even ?" she went on.

"Aye, I know well that you were awake.