“Your father thinks that I do not love you,” she murmured. “Do you think so too, my love?”
“Oh, no! indeed I don’t, mamma,” cried Ernestine. “But papa doesn’t think so, either; I am sure of it. I know that you love me; and why shouldn’t you? am I not your daughter?”
Madame de Noirmont’s features contracted nervously; her brow darkened, and she hastily extricated herself from Ernestine’s arms. But the cloud soon vanished and she drew the girl to her again, saying in a melancholy tone:
“I have never doubted it, mamma, and if you have sometimes--as you had just now, for instance--moments when my caresses seem tiresome to you, I am sure that it’s just because you have a headache, or because you’re thinking about something else; but you don’t love me any less, do you?”
“No, of course I never love you any less. Did the time seem long to you while I was away?”
“Oh! yes, mamma! But luckily I have had a new maid for three weeks. Father must have written you that he discharged the other one, didn’t he?”
“Oh! I like the new one ever so much better! If you knew how nice she is! and not a bit stupid, nor vulgar! She speaks very correctly, and yet she came right from her village; she has never lived out, but she learned her duties instantly.”
“Comtois. He had excellent recommendations.”
Madame de Noirmont smiled at the serious tone in which her daughter spoke.
“My dear girl,” she replied, “I know that we may rely on Comtois.--What is your new maid’s name?”
“Louise--Louise Fré--Frénet--I never can remember her other name. But no matter, she’s a very nice girl, I tell you, mamma; I am sure that you will like her too. I am going to call her, to show her to you. She’s very shy, that is why she hasn’t come to pay her respects to you.”
“Mon Dieu! my dear love, I have plenty of time to see your maid; there is no hurry about it.”
“Oh, yes! I want you to see her right away, mamma.”
Ernestine rang a bell; in a moment the door opened and Louise appeared in the doorway, timid and with downcast eyes.
Madame de Noirmont scrutinized the girl, whom she then saw for the first time; she was struck by her beauty, by the dignified expression of her features, by her modest and reserved demeanor, by her whole aspect, which was not what one ordinarily sees in a lady’s maid. She could not tire of looking at her.