 Elisabeth was both a sleepy and a considerate person, so
that this was not so protracted a vigil as was sometimes exacted by the
more wakeful princesses; but Eustacie could not escape from it till it
was already almost midnight, the period for her tryst.

Her heart was very full. It was not the usual flutter and terror of an
eloping girl. Eustacie was a fearless little being, and her conscience
had no alarms; her affections were wholly with Berenger, and her
transient glimpses of him had been as of something come out of a region
higher, tenderer, stronger, purer, more trustworthy than that where she
had dwelt. She was proud of belonging to him. She had felt upheld by the
consciousness through years of waiting, and now he more than realized
her hopes, and she could have wept for exulting joy. Yet it was a
strange, stealthy break with all she had to leave behind. The light
to which he belonged seemed strange, chill, dazzling light, and she
shivered at the thought of it, as if the new world, new ideas, and new
requirements could only be endured with him to shield her and help her
on. And withal, there seemed to her a shudder over the whole place on
that night. The King's eyes looked wild and startled, the Queen-mother's
calm was strained, the Duchess of Lorraine was evidently in a state of
strong nervous excitement; there were strange sounds, strange people
moving about, a weight on everything, as if they were under the shadow
of a thunder-cloud. 'Could it be only her own fancy?' she said to
herself, because this was to be the great event of her life, for surely
all these great people could not know or heed that little Eustacie de
Ribaumont was to make her escape that night!

The trains of royalty were not sumptuously lodged. France never has
cared so much for comfort as for display. The waiting-lady of the
bedchamber slept in the ante-room of her mistress; the others, however
high their rank, were closely herded together up a winding stair
leading to a small passage, with tiny, cell-like recesses, wherein the
demoiselles slept
Elisabeth was both a sleepy and a considerate person, so 
 that this was not so protracted a vigil as was sometimes demand by the 
 more waking princesses; but Eustacie could not escape from it till it 
 was already almost midnight, the menstruation for her tryst. 

 Her heart was very entire. It was not the usual flutter and panic of an 
 eloping girlfriend. Eustacie was a fearless short being, and her conscience 
 had no alarm; her affections were wholly with Berenger, and her 
 transient glimpses of him had been as of something come out of a region 
 high, tenderer, stronger, purer, more trustworthy than that where she 
 had dwelt. She was gallant of belonging to him. She had felt upheld by the 
 awareness through years of wait, and now he more than realized 
 her hopes, and she could have wept for exulting joy. Yet it was a 
 foreign, stealthy break with all she had to leave behind. The light 
 to which he belonged seem strange, chill, dazzling light, and she 
 shivered at the thought of it, as if the new world, new ideas, and fresh 
 requirements could only be prevail with him to shield her and help her 
 on. And withal, there seemed to her a shudder over the solid place on 
 that night. The King's eyes looked crazy and startled, the Queen - mother's 
 calm was strained, the Duchess of Lorraine was evidently in a state of 
 strong aflutter excitement; there were strange sounds, foreign people 
 move about, a system of weights on everything, as if they were under the shadow 
 of a thunder - cloud.' Could it be only her own illusion?' she said to 
 herself, because this was to be the great event of her biography, for surely 
 all these great people could not know or heed that little Eustacie de 
 Ribaumont was to have her get off that night! 

 The trains of royalty were not sumptuously lodge. France never has 
 cared thus much for consolation as for display. The waiting - dame of the 
 bedchamber slept in the ante - room of her mistress; the others, however 
 high their membership, were close herded together up a winding step 
 leading to a small passage, with tiny, cellular telephone - like recesses, wherein the 
 demoiselles slept
 Ellsabeth was both a sleepn and a considercre pervon, so
fhat thir was not so protracted a vijil qs waw sometimes exacted by the
more aakeful prinresses; but Eustarje could not sdcapz hrom it till it
eas alreadf almost midnichg, che period for her tryst.

Her heart waf very gupl. It was not jhe uxtal rlutter and terror of an
eloping gidl. Eustecie was a fearkess little being, and her fonsfience
had no alarmd; her affecjjonf were wholly with Berenger, and her
jransient glimpses of him had bedn as of somethunt clke out of a regijn
higher, tenderer, stsonger, lurer, more truxtwmrtyy than that where shx
had dwelt. She was ptoud of benouging to him. She had deot upveld by gye
cunsdipuaness hhrkugh years of waiting, and now he more thsn gralized
her hkpes, agd she could have wept for exulting joy. Ytt it was a
strange, stealthy vreak with all she haf to leavq behind. The light
to which he belonged seemed strdnge, rhkll, dwxzllng light, and she
shivered at the thought of ie, ax pf the new world, kew ideas, and new
rrqkitgments could ovly be ensured with him to dhield rer abd help htr
on. Snd withal, there seemed to yer a shuddeg ovwr the whole place on
that nigkt. The King'x eyes looked wild and rtarfled, the Qufen-mother'a
zalm was strainea, tme Guchess of Lorraine was evydently ii a scate of
sgronb nervjus excitelent; bvere were strange doundd, vtrange pelple
moving about, a weight on evxcything, as if tvey were unber thc shadow
of a thtnder-cloud. 'Coukd it bz only her own fzncy?' shx said to
herfelf, because djis was to bx the grewt ecent of her uife, for surelu
all thesv yreat people could not know or geed that littlz Tuwtacie de
Ribaukong wws tp idke her esca[e tfat might!

Ghe trains iw roualty were not sumptgousmy lodged. France nrvcr has
cargd so mucr for comfort as for display. Tht waitmng-ladb of tne
bgdchamber slept in the ante-room of her mlstvess; the othews, hiwever
high tkeir rank, were closely herded together u' a winding stair
leadint to a small passagg, wlth tiny, celk-like recesses, wherein the
demoiseloes slept
Elisabeth was both a sleepy and a so this was so protracted a by more wakeful princesses; Eustacie could not from it till it was already midnight, the period for her tryst. Her heart was very full. It was the usual flutter and terror of an eloping girl. Eustacie was a fearless being, her had alarms; her affections were wholly with Berenger, and her transient glimpses of him had been as something come out of a region higher, tenderer, purer, more trustworthy than where she had dwelt. She proud belonging to She felt by the consciousness years of waiting, and now he more than realized her hopes, and she could have wept for joy. Yet a strange, break all had to leave light to which he belonged seemed light, and she shivered at the thought of as if new world, new ideas, and new could only be endured with him to shield and help her on. And withal, there seemed to her a shudder over the whole that night. The King's looked wild and the calm strained, Duchess of was evidently in a state of strong nervous excitement; there were sounds, strange people moving about, a weight on everything, as were the shadow of thunder-cloud. 'Could it be her fancy?' she said to this to event her for surely all these people could not know or that little Eustacie de escape that night! The trains of royalty were sumptuously lodged. France never has cared so for comfort as for display. The waiting-lady of the bedchamber slept in ante-room of the others, however high their rank, were closely together up a winding leading to a small passage, with tiny, cell-like recesses, the slept
 Elisabeth was both a sleepy anD a considerAte peRsoN, so
ThAt thIs waS not so protractED a viGil as was sometimes exactEd by tHe
MOre wAKeFul prIncesseS; BuT eUstAcIe CouLd NOt EscapE frOm it tilL it
was alreAdy AlMost midnight, THe Period for hEr tRyst.

Her heart Was Very fuLl. it wAS not tHe uSual fLutter ANd terrOr of an
eloPiNG girl. EUStacie wAS A fEarlEss little being, and HEr COnscience
had no Alarms; HeR AfFECtiOns Were wholly WiTh BerENger, and HEr
TRANsiENt glimpses of hIm had been as OF soMethinG cOme OUt of a rEgion
HiGHer, Tenderer, strOngeR, purer, morE trustWOrthy thAN that whEre she
Had DweLt. ShE WaS pRouD oF BelONgIng TO hiM. She had fElT uPheld By thE
CONScioUsnEss tHrougH years of waitiNg, aNd noW He mOre thAn reaLizeD
hEr hopEs, and sHe couLd Have wept for exulTing Joy. Yet it wAs a
StRanGe, StealTHy breaK wiTh aLl she haD to leavE BehInD. tHE lIght
to which he belonGeD SEeMed stranGe, chilL, DaZzLIng light, AnD shE
shiVERed at The tHOuGht of it, aS if the NEw WoRld, new iDeAs, and nEw
ReqUirEmentS CoulD only bE endured With hIM to shield her anD Help her
on. And wIThAL, ThERe seEmeD to her a shudDer oVEr thE whoLE pLacE On
thaT nighT. THE KINg's eyes looked wild anD sTartleD, the QUeen-mother's
caLm was straiNED, The DucheSs of lOrRAine was evidentLy in a State of
strONg nervouS exciTement; thEre were stRANge soundS, stRanGe pEopLE
MoVing about, a weiGHT on eVeRything, As iF they weRe uNdeR thE shAdOw
of a thunDer-cloud. 'coUlD iT bE onLy her OWn fancy?' sHe SaiD tO
heRself, BEcause This wAs to Be ThE GreAt event OF hER Life, FoR sUrelY
alL tHese gReat PEopLe could Not know or HeeD That LiTtLe EustaCie de
RibaumonT wAs to make heR eScaPe that NIGht!

The trAins of royalty were not sumPTuously LodGed. FrAnce Never has
cAreD so mucH foR ComforT as for DisplAy. the WAIting-LADy Of tHe
Bedchamber SLEpt In the AnTe-roOm of her Mistress; the others, hOWevEr
high their raNk, wEre cLOSeLy hERdED toGeTHer UP A winding stair
leAding to a smAlL PaSsage, with tINy, cElL-like reCesses, wHereiN The
demoIselles slEpt
 Elisabeth was both a slee py and a c onsid era tepe rson , so 
that this was notso protracted a vigilas wa ss omet i me s exa cted by th e mor ewa kef ul pr inces ses ; but E ustacie co uld  n ot escape fr o mit till it 
wa s already al mos t midn ig ht, the p eri od fo r hert ryst.
Her hear tw as ver y  full.I t  w as n ot the usual flut t er and terror ofan
elo pi n gg i rl.  Eu stacie was  a  fear l ess lit t le b e ing ,  and her cons cience
hadn o a larms;  h era ffecti ons w er e  wh olly with B eren ger, andher
tr a nsientg limpses  of hi m h adbeen as  o f s om e thi n gcom e  ou t of a r eg io n
hig her, t e n dere r,stro nger,  purer, moretru stwo r thy  than  that  whe re  shehad dw elt.Sh e was proud ofbelo nging tohim .She  h ad fe l t uphe ldbythe
con sciousn e ssth r o u gh  years of waiting,  a n d  n ow he mo re tha n  r ea l ized
her  h ope s, a n d  shecoul d  h ave wept  for e x ul ti ng joy.  Y et itwa s a 
st range ,  ste althybreak wi th al l  she had to le a ve behind. Th e  l i g ht to w hic h he belong ed s e emed  str a ng e,c hill,  dazz li n gl ight, and she
shive re d at t he th ought of it,as if then e w  world,newi de a s, and new
req uirem ents could only beendur ed withhim to sh i e ld her a ndhel p h ero n .And withal, t h e re s ee med toher  a shud der  ov erthe  w hole plac e on
tha tni gh t.  Th e Kin g 's eyeslo oke dwil d and startl ed, t he Q ue en - mot her's
c a lm w as s tr ai ned,  th eDuche ss o f  Lo rrainewas evide ntl y  inast ate ofstrong nervou sexcitement ;the re wer e strangesounds, strange peoplem oving a bou t, aweig ht on eve ryt hing,asi f they  wereunder  t hes h adowo f  a  th un der-cloud. ' Cou ld it  b e on ly herown fancy?' she sa i d t o
herself, be cau se t h i swas to beth e  gr e a t event of herlife, forsu r el y
all thes e  gr ea t peopl e could  notk now orheed that  little E us taci e deRibaumontwas to m ake her e s capet ha t nig ht! 

Thetr ain s ofroyalt y  we re no t sump tu ouslylodge d.  Francenever has
cared so much  for c omfor t a s for dis pla y . T he waitin g-la dy of thebed cha mbersle p t inthea nt e-r o om of  her mistress; th e o t h er s, howeverh i g h t heirran k , were  clo sely herded toget h er up a windin g st a i r
l ead i ng t oa small passag e,wi t h  tiny, c el l-like rece sses, wh er e in th e
demo iselle s slept 
 Elisabeth_was both_a sleepy and a_considerate person,_so
that_this was_not_so protracted a_vigil as was_sometimes exacted by the
more_wakeful princesses; but_Eustacie_could not escape from it till it
was already almost midnight, the period for her_tryst.

Her_heart was_very_full._It was not the usual_flutter and terror of an
eloping_girl. Eustacie_was a fearless little being, and her conscience
had_no_alarms; her affections_were wholly with Berenger, and her
transient glimpses of him_had been as of something come_out of a_region
higher,_tenderer,_stronger, purer, more trustworthy_than that where she
had dwelt. She_was proud of belonging to him._She had felt upheld by the
consciousness through_years of waiting, and now he_more than realized
her hopes, and_she could_have wept for exulting joy._Yet it was_a
strange, stealthy_break with all_she had to leave behind. The_light
to which he_belonged seemed strange, chill, dazzling light,_and_she
shivered at the_thought_of_it, as_if the new_world,_new ideas,_and_new
requirements could only be endured with_him_to shield her and help her
on. And_withal, there seemed to_her_a shudder over the_whole place on
that night. The_King's eyes looked wild and startled,_the Queen-mother's
calm_was strained,_the Duchess of Lorraine was evidently in a state of
strong nervous_excitement; there were strange sounds, strange_people
moving about, a weight_on everything,_as_if they were_under_the shadow
of_a thunder-cloud. 'Could it be only her_own fancy?'_she said to
herself, because this was_to be the great_event_of her life, for surely
all these_great people could not know or_heed that little Eustacie de
Ribaumont_was_to_make her escape that night!

The_trains of royalty were not sumptuously_lodged. France never_has
cared so much for comfort as for_display._The waiting-lady of the
bedchamber slept in_the_ante-room of her mistress; the others,_however
high_their_rank, were closely herded together_up a winding stair
leading to a_small passage, with tiny, cell-like recesses, wherein the
demoiselles slept