A painful suspicion for the first time shot through her mind, and made her pause. Could it be Gaston de Bois whom Madeleine preferred? She always treated him with such marked courtesy. There was no one else,--it must be he! Bertha could not frame the question that hovered about her lips, though to have heard it answered in the negative would have made her heart leap for joy.
Madeleine was too much absorbed by her own reflections to divine those of her cousin.
"At all events," said Bertha, trying to rally and talk cheerfully, though she could not chase that haunting fear from her thoughts, "my aunt is no longer angry with you, and cousin Tristan was well pleased. They will treat you better after this, and your home will be happier."
"_My home?_" ejaculated Madeleine, in a tone that made Bertha start.
"Yes, yours, until you exchange it for that of the favored lover, of whose name you make such a mystery."
"Never? Does he not love you, then? But I know he does,--he must. Every one loves you; no one can help it,--you win all hearts!"
"_Count Tristan's, for instance_," remarked Madeleine, bitterly.
"Ah, not _his_, that is true. How wickedly he looked at you when Maurice pictured how dear you were to him! I noticed Cousin Tristan's eyes, and they frightened me. He looked positively fiendish; and when Maurice said"--
To hear those precious words Maurice had spoken,--those words which she could never more forget,--repeated, was beyond Madeleine's powers of endurance: she sprang up, exclaiming, "Do not let us talk of these matters any more to-day, Bertha. It is growing late,--almost six o'clock. It is time for you to dress for dinner. And you have not forgotten the ball to-night?"
"I could not bear to go now. I am sure Maurice will not go; and you,--would you go, even if we did?"
"You will not refuse me a favor, Bertha, though it may cost you some pain to grant it? Go to this ball, and persuade, entreat Maurice to go. If you do not, you will draw down my aunt's displeasure upon me anew, for she will know why you remain at home,--especially as it will be impossible for me to appear in public to-night."
"I would do anything rather than have my aunt displeased with you again; and then there is the beautiful dress you have taken such pains to make."