through the chief towns and rivers as catalogued
in my geography.

'Bah! to be sure--of course, cheaile. And is she your relation?'

'Papa's first cousin.'

'Won't you present-a me, pray?--I would so like!'

Madame had fallen into the English way of liking people with titles, as
perhaps foreigners would if titles implied the sort of power they do
generally with us.

'Certainly, Madame.'

'You will not forget?'

'Oh no.'

Madame reminded me twice, in the course of the evening, of my promise.
She was very eager on this point. But it is a world of disappointment,
influenza, and rheumatics; and next morning Madame was prostrate in her
bed, and careless of all things but flannel and James's powder.

Madame was _desolee_; but she could not raise her head. She only murmured a
question.

'For 'ow long time, dear, will Lady Knollys remain?'

'A very few days, I believe.'

'Helas! 'ow onlucky! maybe to-morrow I shall be better Ouah! my ear. The
laudanum, dear cheaile!'

And so our conversation for that time ended, and Madame buried her head in
her old red cashmere shawl.

CHAPTER IX

_MONICA KNOLLYS_

Punctually Lady Knollys arrived. She was accompanied by her nephew, Captain
Oakley.

They arrived a little before dinner; just in time to get to their rooms and
dress. But Mary Quince enlivened my toilet with eloquent descriptions of
the youthful Captain whom she had met in the gallery, on his way to his
room, with the servant, and told me how he stopped to let her pass, and how
'he smiled so 'ansom.'

I was very young then, you know, and more childish even than my years; but
this talk of Mary Quince's interested me, I must confess, considerably. I
was painting all sort of portraits of this heroic soldier, while affecting,
I am afraid, a hypocritical indifference to her narration, and I know I was
very nervous and painstaking about my toilet that evening. When I went down
to the drawing-room, Lady Knollys was there, talking volubly to my father
as I entered--a woman not really old, but such as very young people fancy
aged--energetic, bright, saucy, dressed handsomely in purple satin, with a
good deal of lace, and a rich point--I know not how to call it--not a cap,
a sort of head-dress--light and simple, but grand withal, over her greyish,
silken hair.

Rather tall, by no means stout, on the whole a good firm figure, with
something kindly in her look. She got up, quite like a young person, and
comin