"Did mademoiselle have a comfortable night?" she asked.
"Very, my dear Laine but tell me, have you made the inquiries I asked you to last evening, so we may know whether any one suspected our absence."
"No one has the slightest suspicion of it, mademoiselle. Madame de la Rochaigue did not send to inquire for you until early this morning."
"And you replied?"
"That mademoiselle had passed a very comfortable, though slightly restless, night; but that the quiet and rest had benefited mademoiselle very much."
"That is all right then, my dear Laine, and now I have another favour to ask of you."
"I am at mademoiselle's service; but I am so distressed about what happened at Madame Herbaut's last night," said the governess. "I was in torture the whole evening."
"But what happened at Madame Herbaut's?"
"Why, mademoiselle was received with such coldness and indifference. It was shameful, for mademoiselle is in the habit of seeing everybody crowd around her as they ought."
"As they ought?"
"Most assuredly. Mademoiselle knows very well the respect that is due to her position, so last evening I was mortified and incensed beyond expression. 'Ah,' I said to myself,'if you only knew that this young lady you are neglecting is Mlle. de Beaumesnil, you would all be down on your knees in the twinkling of an eye.'"
"My dear Laine, let me first set your mind at rest about last evening. I was delighted, and I enjoyed myself so much that I intend to go again next Sunday evening."
"What, mademoiselle wishes to go again?"
"I shall go, that is decided. Now, another thing. The reception which I met with at Madame Herbaut's, and which scandalises you so deeply, is convincing proof of the discretion I expected from you. I thank you for it, and if you always act in this way I assure you your fortune is made."
"But mademoiselle knows that it is not self-interest--that--"
"Yet that need not prevent me from rewarding you as you deserve, my dear Laine. And that is not all; I want you to ask Madame Herbaut for the address of one of the young ladies I met last evening. The young lady I mean is called Herminie, and she gives music lessons."
"I shall not have to apply to Madame Herbaut for that, mademoiselle, M.
le baron's steward knows the address."
"What! Our steward knows Mlle. Herminie's address?" exclaimed Ernestine, greatly astonished.
"Yes, mademoiselle. They were speaking of the young lady in the office only a few days ago."
"Of Mlle. Herminie?"
"Yes, mademoiselle. It was in relation to a five hundred franc note that she returned to the baroness. Louis, one of the footmen, heard the whole conversation through the door of the reception-room."
"Madame de la Rochaigue knows Herminie?" cried Ernestine, whose surprise and curiosity were increased by each word the governess uttered. "And what is this about a five hundred franc note?"
"Why, it seems that this honest young girl--I told you that Madame Herbaut was exceedingly particular in the selection of her guests--this honest young girl returned the five hundred francs because she said she had already been paid by the countess."
"What countess?"
"Why, mademoiselle's mother."
"My mother paid Herminie? And for what?"
"Ah, yes, it is true that mademoiselle is not aware--I suppose no one has told mademoiselle for fear of making her still more sad."
"Has not told me what? In Heaven's name, speak!"
"Why, the late countess suffered so much towards the last, that the physicians, at their wit's end, thought that music might ameliorate her sufferings, at least to some extent."
"Great Heaven! I can not believe it. Go on, go on."
"So they sent for a young musician, and this young musician was Herminie!"
"Herminie?"
"Yes, mademoiselle. For ten days or a fortnight before Madame la comtesse died, mademoiselle came to play and sing to her every day, and they say it quieted the countess very much, but unfortunately it was too late."
While Ernestine was drying the tears these sad details, hitherto unknown to her, had brought to her eyes, Madame Laine continued:
"It seems that, after your mother's death, the baroness, thinking Mlle.
Herminie had not been paid, sent her five hundred francs, but this noble-hearted young girl brought the money back and declared that the countess owed her nothing."
"She saw my dying mother! She assuaged her sufferings," thought Ernestine, with inexpressible emotion. "Ah, how I long to tell her that I am the daughter of the lady she loved, for how could any one know my mother without loving her?"
Then starting violently at another recollection, the young girl said to herself:
"But I remember now, that, when I told her my name was Ernestine, the coincidence seemed to strike her, and she seemed to be deeply moved when she said that a lady, for whom she had a profound regard, had a daughter who was also named Ernestine. So my mother must have talked to her about me, and if my mother talked to her as confidentially as that, my mother must have loved her; so I, too, have reason to love her. In fact, it is my bounden duty. My brain whirls, my heart overflows. This is too much happiness. I can hardly believe it."
Dashing away her tears, Ernestine turned to her governess and asked:
"But how did the steward ascertain Mlle. Herminie's address."
"He went to the notary who sent the five hundred francs, for Madame de la Rochaigue wished to ascertain the address so she could send it to M.
de Maillefort."
"What, does M. de Maillefort, too, know Herminie?"
"I cannot say, mademoiselle, all I know is that the steward took Herminie's address to M. le marquis nearly a month ago."
"Get me the address at once, my dear Laine."
In a few minutes the governess brought the address and Ernestine immediately sat down and wrote as follows:
"MY DEAR HERMINIE:--You invited me to come and see your pretty room. I shall come early day after to-morrow--Tuesday, early in the morning, so I may be sure of not interfering in your work. I look forward with delight to seeing you again. I have a thousand things to tell you. With love,
"Your sincere friend,