of Martha； his uncle's old servant； and his nurse； the old boy had come round。 They might look on the affair as all but settled。
The contents of this letter were conveyed to the baroness。 The house brightened under it： the more so that there was some hope of their successful champion returning in person next day。 Meantime Perrin had applied to Raynal for the immediate loan of a large sum of money on excellent security。 Raynal refused plump。 Perrin rode away disconsolate。
But the next day he returned to the charge with another proposal： and the nature of this second proposal we shall learn from events。
The day Edouard was expected opened deliciously。 It was a balmy morning； and tempted the sisters out before breakfast。 They strolled on the south terrace with their arms round each other's waists； talking about Edouard； and wondering whether they should really see him before night。 Rose owned she had missed him； and confessed for the first time she was a proud and happy girl。
〃May I tell him so？〃 asked Josephine。
〃Not for all the world。 Would you dare？〃
Further discussion of that nice point was stopped by the baroness coming out； leaning on Dr。 Aubertin。
Thenhow we young people of an unceremonious age should have staredthe demoiselles de Beaurepaire； inasmuch as this was their mother's first appearance； lowered their fair heads at the same time like young poplars bowing to the wind； and so waited reverently till she had slightly lifted her hands； and said； 〃God bless you； my children！〃
It was done in a moment on both sides； but full of grace and piety； and the charm of ancient manners。
〃How did our dear mother sleep？〃 inquired Josephine。 Aubertin interposed with a theory that she slept very well indeed if she took what he gave her。
〃Ay； IF；〃 suggested Rose； saucily。
〃I slept；〃 said the baroness； 〃and I wish I had not for I dreamed an ugly dream。〃 They all gathered round her； and she told her dream。
〃I thought I was with you all in this garden。 I was admiring the flowers and the trees； and the birds were singing with all their might。 Suddenly a dark cloud came； it cleared almost directly； but flowers； trees； sky； and birds were gone now； and I could see the chateau itself no more。 It means that I was dead。 An ugly dream； my children； an ugly dream。〃
〃But only a dream； dear mother；〃 said Rose： then with a sweet； consoling smile； 〃See； here is your terrace and your chateau。〃
〃And here are your daughters；〃 said Josephine； and they both came and kissed her to put their existence out of doubt。 〃And here is your Aesculapius；〃 said Aubertin。 〃And here is your Jacintha。〃
〃Breakfast； madame；〃 said Jacintha。 〃Breakfast； mesdemoiselles。 Breakfast； monsieur：〃 dropping each a distinct courtesy in turn。
〃She has turned the conversation very agreeably；〃 said the baroness； and went in leaning on her old friend。
But the sisters lagged behind and took several turns in silence。 Rose was the first to speak。 〃How superstitious of you！〃
〃I said nothing。〃
〃No； but you looked volumes at me while mamma was telling her dream。 For my part I feel sure love is stronger than hate； and we shall stay all our days in this sweet place： and O Josey！ am I not a happy girl that it's all owing to HIM！〃
At this moment Jacintha came running towards them。 They took it for a summons to breakfast； and moved to meet her。 But they soon saw she was almost as white as her apron； and she came open…mouthed and wringing her hands。 〃What shall I do？ what shall I do？ Oh； don't let my poor mistress know！〃
They soon got from her that Dard had just come from the town； and learned the chateau was sold； and the proprietor coming to take possession this very day。 The poor girls were stupefied by the blow。
If anything； Josephine felt it worst。 〃It is my doing；〃 she gasped； and tottered fainting。 Rose supported her： she shook it off by a violent effort。 〃This is no time for weakness；〃 she cried； wildly； 〃come to the Pleasaunce； there is water there。 I love my mother。 What will I not do for her？ I love my mother。〃
Muttering thus wildly she made for the pond in the Pleasaunce。 She had no sooner turned the angle of the chateau than she started back with a convulsive cry； and her momentary feebleness left her directly； she crouched against the wall and griped the ancient corner…stone with her tender hand till it powdered； and she spied with dilating eye into the Pleasaunce； Rose and Jacintha panting behind her。 Two men stood with their backs turned to her looking at the oak…tree； one an officer in full uniform； the other the human snake Perrin。 Though the soldier's back was turned； his off…handed； peremptory manner told her he was inspecting the place as its master。
〃The baroness！ the baroness！〃 cried Jacintha； with horror。 They looked round； and the baroness was at their very backs。
〃What is it？〃 cried she； gayly。
〃Nothing； mamma。〃
〃Let me see this nothing。〃
They glanced at one another； and； idle as the attempt was； the habit of sparing her prevailed； and they flung themselves between her and the blow。
〃Josephine is not well；〃 said Rose。 〃She wants to go in。〃 Both girls faced the baroness。
〃Jacintha；〃 said the baroness； 〃fetch Dr。 Aubertin。 There； I have sent her away。 So now tell me； why do you drive me back so？ Something has happened；〃 and she looked keenly from one to the other。
〃O mamma！ do not go that way： there are strangers in the Pleasaunce。〃
〃Let me see。 So there are。 Call Jacintha back that I may order these people out of my premises。〃 Josephine implored her to be calm。
〃Be calm when impertinent intruders come into my garden？〃
〃Mother； they are not intruders。〃
〃What do you mean？〃
〃They have a right to be in our Pleasaunce。 They have bought the chateau。〃
〃It is impossible。 HE was to buy it for usthere is some mistake what man would kill a poor old woman like me？ I will speak to this gentleman： he wears a sword。 Soldiers do not trample on women。 Ah！ that man。〃
The notary； attracted by her voice； was coming towards her； a paper in his hand。
Raynal coolly inspected the tree； and tapped it with his scabbard； and left Perrin to do the dirty work。 The notary took off his hat； and； with a malignant affectation of respect； presented the baroness with a paper。
The poor old thing took it with a courtesy； the effect of habit； and read it to her daughters as well as her emotion permitted； and the language； which was as new to her as the dialect of Cat Island to Columbus。
〃Jean Raynal； domiciled by right； and lodging in fact at the Chateau of Beaurepaire； acting by the pursuit and diligence of Master Perrin； notary； I； Guillaume Le Gras； bailiff； give notice to Josephine Aglae St。 Croix de Beaurepaire； commonly called the Baroness de Beaurepaire； having no known place of abode〃
〃Oh！〃
〃but lodging wrongfully at the said Chateau of Beaurepaire； that she is warned to decamp within twenty…four hours〃
〃To decamp！〃
〃failing which that she will be thereto enforced in the manner for that case made and provided with the aid of all the officers and agents of the public force。〃
〃Ah！ no； messieurs； pray do not use force。 I am frightened enough already。 I did not know I was doing anything wrong。 I have been here thirty years。 But； since Beaurepaire is sold； I comprehend perfectly that I must go。 It is just。 As you say； I am not in my own house。 I will go； gentlemen； I will go。 Whither shall I go； my children？ The house where you were born to me is ours no longer。 Excuse me； gentlementhis is nothing to you。 Ah！ sir； you have revenged yourself on two weak womenmay Heaven forgive you！〃
The notary turned on his heel。 The poor baroness； all whose pride the iron law； with its iron gripe； had crushed into dismay and terror； appealed to him。 〃O sir！ send me from the house； but not from the soil where my Henri is laid！ is there not in all this domain a corner where she who was its mistress may lie down and die？ Where is the NEW BARON； that I may ask this favor of him on my knees？〃
She turned towards Raynal and seemed to be going towards him with outstretched arms。 But Rose checked her with fervor。 〃Mamma！ do not lower yourself。 Ask nothing of these wretches。 Let us lose all； but not forget ourselves。〃
The baroness had not her daughter's spirit。 Her very person tottered under this blow。 Josephine supported her； and the next moment Aubertin came out and hastened to her side。 Her head fell back； what little strength she had failed her； she was half lifted； half led； into the house。
Commandant Raynal was amazed at all this； and asked what the deuce was the matter。
〃Oh！〃 said the notary； 〃we are used to these little scenes in our business。〃
〃But I am not；〃 replied the soldier。 〃You never told me there was to be all this fuss。〃
He then dismissed his friend rather abruptly and strode up and down the Pleasaunce。 He twisted his mustaches； muttered； and 〃pested；〃 and was ill at ease。 Accustomed to march gayly into a town； and see the regiment； that was there before； marching gayly out； or vice versa； and to strike tents twice a quarter at least； he was little prepared for such a scene as this。 True； he did not hear all the baroness's words； but more than one tone of sharp distress reached him where he stood； and the action of the whole scene was so expressive； there was little need of words。 He saw the notice given； the dismay it caused； and the old lady turn imploringly towards him with a speaking gesture； and above all he saw her carried away； half fainting； her hands clasped； her reverend face pale。 He was not a man of quick sensibilities。 He did not thoroughly take the scene in at first： it grew upon him afterwards。
〃Confound it；〃 thought he； 〃I am the proprietor。 They all say so。 Instead of which I feel like a thief。 Fancy her getting so fond of a PLACE as all this。〃
Presently it occurred to him that the shortness of the notice might have much to do with her distress。 〃These notaries；〃 said he to himself； 〃understand nothing save law： women have piles of baggage； and can't strike tents directly the order comes； as we can。 Perhaps if I were to give them twenty…four days instead of hours？hum