the company we keep. During the first six months of
my stay in De Chaumont's house Doctor Chantry was my sole companion. I
looked anxiously into the glass on my dressing-table, dreading to see a
reflection of his pettiness. I saw a face with large features, eager in
expression. The eyes were hazel, and bluish around the iris rims, the
nose aquiline, the chin full, the head high, and round templed. The hair
was sunny and wavy, not dark and tight fitting like that of my Indian
father and mother. There would be always a scar across my eyebrow. I
noticed that the lobe of my ear was not deeply divided from my head, but
fashioned close to it in triangular snugness, though I could not have
said so. Regular life and abundant food, and the drive of purpose, were
developing all my parts. I took childish pleasure in watching my Indian
boyhood go, and vital force mounting every hour.

Time passed without marking until January. The New England Thanksgiving
we had not then heard of; and Christmas was a holy day of the church. On
a January afternoon Madame de Ferrier sent Ernestine to say that she
wished to see Doctor Chantry and me.

My master was asleep by the fire in an armchair. I looked at his
disabled feet, and told Ernestine I would go with her alone. She led me
to a wing of the house.

Even an Indian boy could see through Annabel de Chaumont. But who might
fathom Madame de Ferrier? Every time I saw her, and that was seldom,
some change made her another Madame de Ferrier, as if she were a
thousand women in one. I saw her first a white clad spirit, who stood by
my head when I awoke; next, a lady who rose up and bowed to me; then a
beauty among dancers; afterwards, a little girl running across the turf,
or a kind woman speaking to my master. Often she was a distant figure,
coming and going with Paul and Ernestine in De Chaumont's woods. If we
encountered, she always said, "Good day, monsieur," and I answered "Good
day, madame."

I had my meals alone with Doctor Chantry, and never questioned this
custom, from the day I entered the house. De Chaumont's chief, who was
over the other servants, and had come with him from his chateau near
Blois, waited upon me, while Doctor Chantry was served by another man
named Jean. My master fretted at Jean. The older servant paid no
attention to that.

Madame de Ferrier and I had lived six months under the same roof as
strangers. Consciousness plowed such a direct furrow in front of me that