ated her. She said she stole wine and brandy whenever the
opportunity offered--that she was always asking her for such stimulants and
pretending pains in her stomach. Here, perhaps, there was exaggeration; but
I knew it was true that I had been at different times despatched on that
errand and pretext for brandy to Mrs. Rusk, who at last came to her bedside
with pills and a mustard blister only, and was hated irrevocably ever
after.

I felt all this was done to torture me. But a day is a long time to a
child, and they forgive quickly. It was always with a sense of danger that
I heard Madame say she must go and see Monsieur Ruthyn in the library,
and I think a jealousy of her growing influence was an ingredient in the
detestation in which honest Mrs. Rusk held her.

CHAPTER VI

_A WALK IN THE WOOD_

Two little pieces of by-play in which I detected her confirmed my
unpleasant suspicion. From the corner of the gallery I one day saw her,
when she thought I was out and all quiet, with her ear at the keyhole of
papa's study, as we used to call the sitting-room next his bed-room. Her
eyes were turned in the direction of the stairs, from which only she
apprehended surprise. Her great mouth was open, and her eyes absolutely
goggled with eagerness. She was devouring all that was passing there.
I drew back into the shadow with a kind of disgust and horror. She was
transformed into a great gaping reptile. I felt that I could have thrown
something at her; but a kind of fear made me recede again toward my room.
Indignation, however, quickly returned, and I came back, treading briskly
as I did so. When I reached the angle of the gallery again. Madame, I
suppose, had heard me, for she was half-way down the stairs.

'Ah, my dear Cheaile, I am so glad to find you, and you are dress to come
out. We shall have so pleasant walk.'

At that moment the door of my father's study opened, and Mrs. Rusk, with
her dark energetic face very much flushed, stepped out in high excitement.

'The Master says you may have the brandy-bottle, Madame and I'm glad to be
rid of it--_I_ am.'

Madame courtesied with a great smirk, that was full of intangible hate and
insult.

'Better your own brandy, if drink you must!' exclaimed Mrs. Rusk. 'You may
come to the store-room now, or the butler can take it.'

And off whisked Mrs. Rusk for the back staircase.

There had been no common skirmish on this occasion, but a pitched battle.

Madame had ma