Red Caps and Lilies

me some croissants. Jean and I will take a little bowl o

a wide-spreading oak tree at the right of the steps. She was doing a piece of tapestry for a fire screen, weaving the glowing

Cécile and me under the tree. You promised maman that you would finish the shawl of Great-aunt Hortense so that she could have it when the cold day

ugh she were the queen. I hate sewing when the sun shines like this. I don't like it any time. I tried to embroider one rai

along a garden path, laughed at Marie Jos

ay here at Les Vignes for a year or even longer before we can go back to Paris. I

" Marie Josephine returned crossly, but smiled th

but it will not do for you to pick up expressions of the people!" Hortense frowned again and turning to Cécile, who came and sto

alled as the dog bounded toward her up the terrace steps.

ke one sometimes. None of us are as nice as Mother Barbet

blew about the girls in the gentle wind. It was hot, with a hazy, sleepy heat

Martin for the supper table to-night. It is so warm we could almost have su

to-night, of course we shall! There comes Le Pont now. I'm going to ru

ing toward them down the terrace steps. She caught Madame le Pont's hands in both of hers

is a fairy day. Jean says that the birds and flowers talk to

nebleau that I remember so well. We used to hunt in the forest." Madame le Pont sighe

for we have set our hearts on it, all of us, even old lady Hortense!" coax

her arm about Marie Josephine and holding the lilies across her shoulder with her other hand. "Wait for me one moment while I give these l

odded, smiling

t air is not too chill," she answered as she sat down in Céci

ie Josephine called after Cécile as she went up the terrace ste

ci

n muslin, which blew about them in the soft breeze. Cécile had on a garden hat, which she had tied under her chin with a pink bow, but Marie Josephine swung her hat back and forth by i

ps by sundown. Think of it, news of them all, news of Lisle!" Cé

un and run until I come up to him. He will have messages from maman and Lisle and Rosanne. Perhaps he will bring w

a fast horse and Neville rides well. I hope so much that he comes to-night, Marie Josephine. Chérie, we left in the mi

er seem to give a thought to Paris. We are better off than if we were near a town. Jacques, the runner, told Mother B

of the pathway and kissed M

envious of little Jean because he has you for a comrade more than I." Cécil

o the woods. We know of so many pretty plac

e saw Mother Barbette's little red cottage with the smoke rising in zigzag fashion from its chimney. She ran up the one-stone doorstep into the low, dark room. There by her deal table was Mother Barb

be surprised," she cried, throwing both arms ar

, if I mistake not, the kind Nannette has given you some of her bread to eat with it!" Madam

little bed of oat straw in a far corner of the room and drew out something from under the pillow. He wore his black smock which did not show the d

imidly. She did not seem quite the same and he could not make it out. He knew that she never ceased to think of her brother Lisle in Paris and that she was wildly impatient for the coming of Neville with news. They were to have had such a delightful afternoon in the woods, but she did not say anything when he skipped beside her, talking of what they would do. They had talked over all that had happened while she had been away, of the fir

f wood creatures, and of the brooding splendor of September. When Marie Jose

Little Mademoiselle?" Jean asked her as they turned

ing to the place you love the best of all, the sundial!" She swung her hat by its ribbons, throwing it up in the air and ca

row. Do you love Dian, Little Mademoiselle?" Jean ask

down at last on a bank of mos

e said, 'Some people in this world are different and Dian is on

to be there. The story was that an ancestor had wished to be alone with time and had had this place made for himself, where he used to spend long hours writing who kno

time," Jean reproached his friend as he opened the littl

y dress ball and hid in the balcony and watched the others dance. I told you about the funny café in the old green

ike a little brown gnome, that Marie Josephine laughed out loud. Je

ridden so fast. He will have a big packet of letters in his pocket for us all and he will bring news of maman and Lisle. Oh, perhaps he will bring word that they are coming soon." Marie Josephine

ere old enough to plan and do things, and that you knew about

apped and his

ot," he answered, but, as though in contradiction

rey stone base of the sundial. A field rabbit popped out from a clump of hedges near them, twinkled his e

by, too, at Les Vignes-Le Pont and Hortense, all of them except Cécile-but I think more than they do and I know things that they don't know, things about which grandfather thought and told me. You and I have al

ed his head vigorously when she asked, "You'll stand by me

ay, great friends. We have had many good times together," he we

d have an adventure, you and I! What if we should be i

gerly. "They were always being rescued. Yo

sephine

We never want to miss that. See how th

through a long, straight wood path, looking back every

not? It has no friends but us!" Jea

g in on the grain made a glowing picture of grey and gold. They watched the great sieves, hung between poles, bending backward and forward, winnowing the grain from the chaff. Then they went on more slowly down the lane and, turning to the right, they saw suddenly the vast countryside and in the distance a slowly movi

" Marie Josephine called happily as they came up

t sunset." Indeed, as he walked through the tufted meadow grass in his grey smock, his tall figur

eyes and ears alert for field rabbits. Jean and Mar

young! He thinks of nothing but the woods and birds. He knows nothing of all that is happening

he shepherd said, as he looked about him at the pasture lands with the grey sheepfold b

laughed up at him. "I am so happy no

if, the sheep dog, ran around and around barking his orders vigorously and scolding the laggin

eans summer is gone, doesn't it, Dian?" aske

over, and winter will come." As he spoke the shepherd looked off at the horizo

t." Marie Josephine looked wistfully at Jean as she spoke. She would have so enjoyed his company at the evening meal u

e new fig jam," Jean called over his shoulder to the shepherd. Then

ble out under the big pine by

e, Jean, until to-morrow." Marie Josephine was off like a flash toward the grea

airs, and into a big room on the right at the top of the stairs. Proté stood by t

t was her order, too." While she spoke Proté brushed out Marie Josephine's curls in front of a long, gilded mirror which hung back of the dressing tab

grown-up. Let's talk about the bal masqué, Proté. Wasn't it splendid of Rosanne to come

hings to tell you!" Proté's round face looked solemn as she spoke.

ll. She is in Paris. Doesn't it seem strange, Proté, when it'

lders and raised both h

to think of it a

and Lisle. Do you think Neville will come

ttle Mademoiselle

her white dress. It was a scarlet crêpe shawl, heavily embroidered in white fleur de lys, and it was so long that it a

ra," Bertran du Monde said to her, taking her arm and bowing mockingly as they went towar

go to your aunt's box at the opera at night!" returned Marie Jose

Bertran answered, appealing to his sister, who had

odded sm

her breast. Cécile was lovely, too, in her pale green, her golden hair dressed high as she had worn it at the bal masqué. Denise and Marie Josephine sat one on each side of the governess, both in white except for the gorgeous red of Marie's shawl. Bertran had changed from his riding clothes into blue velvet trunks and waistcoat. His stiff black hair was fa

nd Seigneur for a great many years." Marie Josephine smiled

answered, helping himself to salad as old Mar

olored silk shade. The delicate dishes and the silver flashed in the soft light. Abo

e old butler as he removed the cloth and put some silver dishe

it is early yet to-n

nd you know Neville may not have been able to get fresh mount

red of having some one ask every five minute

er plate and ate one slowly. "We must hope

know." Marie Josephine put her hand cares

n to see them grabbing in the dust for them. One of them, a tall, lanky boy, fairly wallowed in dust! I tell

he bailiff comes to oversee, he will give them bread if

stars for a moment. It was Grigge of whom Ber

ellow wine into the tall, thin gla

King Louis of F

"His Majesty the King." Then they drank

pricots. Then the children and Madame le Pont all saw him at once, as he came up to the table. He was a bearded man in ragged clothes, a red cap

u and what

ot answer and

call the men on the place." Bertran was frightened, b

umped up from the table, a

lf sob in her voice. Neville had come back. How was it that the ot

all knew him. Bowing to

y for me to come at all. I did not change before seeing you because it i

sank on to a chair which

xhausted. Bertran, pour some wine. There, that is well." The g

rt

ers, filled with concern and int

ville looked at Madame

ee you alo

they all spoke at once,

ll us also. Tell us

and safe." Marie Josephine put her ar

nd there seems to be no real danger for th

t of the city?" It was

he city gates are closely guarded. The comtesse and Monsieur Lisle will not leave because, for one reason, your great-aunt, the Marquise du Ganne, is old and ailing. She cann

mbled in h

ere is a note for Little Mademoiselle from Monsieur Lisle.

to Marie Josephine, who caught it and held it close to her heart, the re

t Austria has promised aid. This troublesome time is but for the moment. We are very comfortable with Henri to take care of

ve to

s Montfleur

I will have some stori

ords that her mother had spoken on the morning that they had left for Les Vignes came