The Saint Paul globe., 1900-12-24
CHAPTER XVIII.
BAD NEWS.

Though Raouls love and admiration
for Molly increased day by day ne was
careful to keep his sentiments to him
self. There probably never existed q a a
this impecunious Norman baron. In
spite of past misfortunes, in spite of the
pressure of circumstances which daily
wounded his pride and lowered his self
respect this one thing remained to him,
held fast and jealousy guarded, a pos
session of which no Cne could rob him.
It was not ''Eonor'' as commonly under
stood in this easy-going nineteenth CEN
tury, but q highmindedneSs, a stern sense
of duty, a chiValrouSnesS--in word
such as was once deemed the glory of
knightly manhood, but which is now sad
ly out of date.
So. thought this sudden love of his
grew and gathered strength till another
man could scarcely have concealed its
intensity, Raoul scorned to betray it by
word or sign. Nine. de Treilles' habits
rendered Molly's position in the house
SO peculiar, that had the master been
other than he was, it would have been
untenab,e. The girl was thrown con-
stantly into his society, and appeared,
as she knew him better, both to like and
under existing circumstances was as he
knew, quite impracticable, a possib lity
of which he did not allow himself to
dream; and to take the smallest advan-
tage after innocent trust, to disturb
her by any hint of his passion, would
have been baseness of which he was
incapable
Nevertheless is spite of the strict
watch which he kept over himself, a
certain change was perceptible in him,
which Molly noticed and rejoiced over.
little thinking that it was, due to her in
fuence. He looked brighter than be-
fore, was softer in his manner, and in
every way more pleasant companion.
Molly had quite lost her dread of him,
and grew to look forward to the hours
which she spent in his company as the
happiest in the day. Meanwhile, she
herself, had managed to effect many
changes in the chateau. She had per-
suaded Nine. de Treiles to make use of
a certain small sitting-room near the
dining-room which Justine and Isidore
had cleaned; and which Molly herself
had arranged and decorated Not only
did the countess consent to sit there
for a few hours every day swhile her
own room was aired--a great desider-
in an appearance. and Molly sometimes
retired there after dinner when it was
too damp to go out; generally alone.
however, for, except on rare occasions,
the strict rule of life which Sauvigny
had laid down for himself did not allow
him to bear her company. She had
also-wonder of wonders induced Nine.
de Treilles to go out once or twice, and
the latter had not felt any worse for
it-had not coughed, and had not been
hysterical. 1t is true that this miracu-
due to the fact that the last medical
pamphlet which she had perused pre-
scribed fresh air and exercise as eX-
cellent preventatives of 'Elephanti-
ass, with which malady, as the coun-
tess had recently found out, she was
now threatened. Occasionally. it must
be owned, Molly had a hard time of
it with her. On the days when she suf-
fered from what she was pleased to
term 'le spleen''-the word being en-
ployed according to its French sense to
designate that state of mind which we
are wont to describe Familiarity as a fit
of ''the blues" but which, in her case,
might be taken according to its more
common signification-she was simply
unbearable.
Then, indeed, her unfortunate little
companion required all her strength of
will to keep her .''peppery'' temper under
control, and all her courage to preserve
even semblance of her customary
brightness. AS rule. however, Nine. de
Treilles evinced certain liking, not to
say admiration, for the girl whose at
tainments were so varied, and who was
conceivable way, from wedding the gar
den to making beef-tea.
One day, as Molly presented herself at
the countess door, she was dismayed to
hear Justine singing within; a sure sign
that it was a bad day. with their
charge. On entering she found to her
surprise, the latter dressed and standing
in the middle of the room, an open letter
in her hand.
'1s my brother in?" she asked, queru-
lously. without returning any answer to
Molly's greeting.
81 suppose so; 1 have not seen him this
morning"
GO and tell him I want him at once.