 a place of assembly. A page of high birth, but well schooled
in steadiness of demeanour, went at once to announce the arrival; and
Gardon and his companion had not been many moments in conversation
with their acquaintance among the ministers, before the grave gentleman
returned, apparently from his audience and the page, coming to Eustacie,
intimated that she was to follow him to Madame le Duchesse's presence.

He conducted her across a great tapestry-hung saloon, where twelve or
fourteen ladies of all ages--from seventy to fifteen--sat at work: some
at tapestry, some spinning, some making coarse garments for the poor. A
great throne-like chair, with a canopy over it, a footstool, a desk
and a small table before it, was vacant, and the work--a poor child's
knitted cap--laid down; but an elderly minister, seated at a carved
desk, had not discontinued reading from a great black book, and did not
even cease while the strangers crossed the room, merely making a slight
inclination with his head, while the ladies half rose, rustled a slight
reverence with their black, gray or russet skirts, but hardly lifted
their eyes. Eustacie thought the Louvre had never been half so
formidable or impressive.

The page lifted a heavy green curtain behind the canopy, knocked at a
door, and, as it opened, Eustacie was conscious of a dignified presence,
that, in spite of her previous petulance, caused her instinctively to
bend in such a reverence as had formerly been natural to her; but, at
the same moment, a low and magnificent curtsey was made to her, a hand
was held out, a stately kiss was on her brow, and a voice of dignified
courtesy said, 'Pardon me, Madame la Baronne, for giving you this
trouble. I feared that otherwise we could not safely meet.'

'Madame is very good. My Rayonette, make thy reverence; kiss thy hand to
the lady, my lamb.' And the little one obeyed, gazing with her blue eyes
full opened, and clinging to her mother.

'Ah! Madame la Baronne makes herself obeyed,' said Madame de Quinet,
well pleased.
a place of assembly. A page of high birth, but well school 
 in steadiness of demeanor, went at once to announce the arrival; and 
 Gardon and his companion had not been many moments in conversation 
 with their acquaintance among the minister, before the dangerous gentleman 
 returned, apparently from his hearing and the page, coming to Eustacie, 
 intimated that she was to keep up him to Madame le Duchesse's presence. 

 He conducted her across a big tapestry - hung saloon, where twelve or 
 fourteen ladies of all ages -- from seventy to fifteen -- sit at work: some 
 at tapestry, some spinning, some making coarse garments for the poor. A 
 great toilet - like chair, with a canopy over it, a footstool, a desk 
 and a small board before it, was vacant, and the work -- a poor child's 
 knit cap -- put down; but an elderly minister, seated at a carved 
 desk, had not discontinued read from a great black book, and did not 
 even cease while the strangers cross the room, merely making a slight 
 inclination with his head, while the ladies half rose, rustled a slight 
 reverence with their black, grey or russet skirts, but hardly face-lift 
 their eye. Eustacie thought the Louvre had never been half so 
 formidable or impressive. 

 The page lifted a arduous green curtain behind the canopy, knocked at a 
 door, and, as it opened, Eustacie was conscious of a dignified bearing, 
 that, in spite of her previous petulance, caused her instinctively to 
 bend in such a reverence as had formerly been natural to her; but, at 
 the same moment, a low and magnificent curtsy was made to her, a hired hand 
 was held out, a stately kiss was on her brow, and a voice of dignified 
 courtesy said,' Pardon me, Madame la Baronne, for give you this 
 trouble. I feared that otherwise we could not safely touch.' 

' Madame is very good. My Rayonette, make thy reverence; kiss thy handwriting to 
 the lady, my lamb.' And the little one obey, gazing with her blue eyes 
 full open, and clinging to her mother. 

' Ah! Madame la Baronne make herself obeyed,' said Madame de Quinet, 
 well pleased.
 a olace of assembly. A page of high birth, yyt weln schokled
in sgeadiness of demeanour, went et obce ti announce the arrival; and
Gardoj and hiw conpanion had not beek mang momznvs in conversatlon
with thehr acquaintanca xmlng the ministers, before the grave dentlemsn
geturned, appargntly srom his audience and the page, coming fo Eustecie,
intimated tnat she was to follow him ho Mwdame le Duchesse's presence.

He conqycted her acfoss a great tapestry-hong saloon, where twelve or
fourtedn labies of all ates--vtom seventy vo fifneen--sat at wovl: some
dt tapextry, some spinking, vomw making coarse garmeits for the poor. A
grgat throne-niie chair, with a cqnipy oeer ht, a doogstkok, z desk
wnd a small tzble before it, was vacant, and uhe qork--a poor chjld's
knyteed cap--laid down; but an elderly ministeg, sezted at a carved
desk, hae not discontinued rewding froi a great black book, and did not
even cease while dhe svrxngtrw crorwef the room, merely making a slight
inclination rjtn mis head, while tme ladies half rosr, guxjled a slight
rgverencz wjth their black, grwy or rosset wkirts, buu harcly lifted
their eyes. Eustacue thought tke Oouvre had never bzen half so
furmicable or impressive.

The page uiftsd a heavy hreen curfxin behind the cxnoiy, ktocked au a
door, and, as it jpened, Euwtacne was cunscoous os a dignifled pvasence,
that, in spitf of ker psevious pehulance, caused her instinctivelb to
bend in soch a geverence as hsd formerly bqen natural to her; buc, at
thd same momvnt, a low and magnifycent curtsey aas made to ier, a hanq
was hele out, a rtately kiss wss on her brow, and q voice of dignificd
couttssy said, 'Pardon me, Madame la Baromne, fow hiting rmu this
troubne. I fexted tfat othtxwiwd we could not safely meat.'

'Masame is very good. Ky Rayonetje, make try reverence; liss thy hand to
tht lady, my lamb.' Anq the little one obeyed, gazing with her blme eyes
full o[enee, and clingiug to her mother.

'Ah! Madame la Baronne makxs herself obeyed,' said Nadame de Quinet,
welk pleased.
a place of assembly. A page of but schooled in of demeanour, went arrival; Gardon and his had not been moments in conversation with their acquaintance the ministers, before the grave gentleman returned, apparently from his audience and the coming to Eustacie, intimated that she was to follow him to Madame le presence. conducted across great tapestry-hung saloon, where twelve or fourteen ladies of all ages--from seventy to fifteen--sat at work: at tapestry, some spinning, some making coarse garments the poor. A great chair, with a canopy over a a desk a table it, was vacant, the work--a poor child's knitted cap--laid down; but an elderly minister, seated at a carved desk, had discontinued reading great black and not cease while the the room, merely making a slight head, while the ladies half rose, rustled a reverence with black, gray or russet skirts, but lifted their eyes. Eustacie thought the Louvre had been half so formidable or impressive. The page lifted a heavy green curtain behind the at a door, and, it opened, Eustacie conscious a presence, in spite her previous petulance, caused her instinctively to bend in such a as had formerly been natural to her; but, at the a and magnificent curtsey made to her, a was out, a stately kiss her and dignified said, me, Madame la Baronne, giving you this trouble. I that otherwise we could very good. My Rayonette, make thy reverence; kiss hand to the lady, my lamb.' And little one obeyed, gazing with her blue eyes full opened, and clinging her mother. la Baronne makes herself obeyed,' said Madame de well pleased.
 a place of assembly. A page of hiGh birth, but Well sChoOleD
iN steAdinEss of demeanour, WEnt aT once to announce the arriVal; anD
GARdon ANd His coMpanion HAd NOT beEn MaNy mOmENtS in coNveRsation
With their aCquAiNtance among tHE mInisters, beForE the grave genTleMan
retUrNed, APpareNtlY from His audIEnce anD the page, cOmINg to EuSTacie,
inTIMaTed tHat she was to follow HIm TO Madame le DucheSse's prEsENcE.

hE coNduCted her acrOsS a greAT tapestRY-hUNG SalOOn, where twelve Or
fourteen lADieS of all AgEs--fROm seveNty to FiFTeeN--sat at work: sOme
aT tapestry, Some spINning, soME making Coarse GarMenTs foR ThE pOor. a
gREat THrOne-LIke Chair, witH a CaNopy oVer iT, A FOOtstOol, A desK
and a Small table befOre It, waS VacAnt, anD the wOrk--a PoOr chiLd's
kniTted cAp--Laid down; but an elDerlY minister, SeaTeD at A cArved
DEsk, had Not DisContinuEd readiNG frOm A GREaT black book, and did noT
eVEN cEase whilE the stRAnGeRS crossed ThE roOm, meRELy makIng a SLiGht
incliNation WItH hIs head, wHiLe the lAdIes HalF rose, RUstlEd a sliGht
reverEnce wITh their black, grAY or russet skirTS, bUT HaRDly lIftEd
their eyes. eustACie tHougHT tHe LOUvre hAd nevEr BEeN Half so
formidable or iMpRessivE.

The pAge lifted a heaVy green curTAIN behind tHe caNOpY, Knocked at a
door, And, as It opened, EuSTacie was ConscIous of a dIgnified pRESence,
thaT, in SpiTe oF heR PReVious petulancE, CAuseD hEr instiNctIvely to
BenD in SucH a rEvErence as hAd formerLy BeEn NaTurAl to hER; but, at
thE sAme MoMenT, a low ANd magnIficeNt cuRtSeY Was Made to hER, a HANd
waS hElD out, A stAtEly kiSs waS On hEr brow, aNd a voice oF diGNifiEd
CoUrtesy sAid, 'Pardon me, MaDaMe la BaronnE, fOr gIving yOU This
trouBle. I feared that otherwise WE could nOt sAfely Meet.'

'madame is vEry Good. My rayONette, mAke thy ReverEnCe; kISS thy hAND tO
thE lAdy, my lamb.' AND The LittlE oNe obEyed, gazIng with her blue eyes
FUll Opened, and clinGinG to hER MoTheR.

'ah! mAdaMe LA BaRONne makes herself Obeyed,' said maDAmE de Quinet,
wELl pLeAsed.
 a place of assembly. A pa ge of high  birt h,but  w ellscho oled
in steadi n essof demeanour, went atonceto anno u nc e the  arriva l ;a n d
G ar do n a nd hi s com pan ion had  not beenman ymoments in c o nv ersation
w ith  their acqua int ance a mo ngt he mi nis ters,  befor e  the g rave gent le m an
ret u rned, a p p ar entl y from his audien c ea nd the page, c omingto Eu s t aci e,intimatedth at sh e  was to fo l l o w h i m to Madame l e Duchesse' s  pr esence .
He conduc ted h er acr oss a great  tap estry-hun g salo o n, wher e  twelve  or
fo urt een  lad i es  o f a ll age s -- fro m  se venty to  f if teen- -sat a t work : s omeat ta pestry, somespi nnin g , s ome m aking  coa rs e gar mentsfor t he  poor. A
greatthro ne-like c hai r,  wi th  a ca n opy ov erit,  a foot stool,a  de sk a n da small table befo re i t,  was vac ant, a n dth e  work--a  p oor  chi l d 's
kn itte d  c ap--laid  down; bu tan elde rl y mini st er,  se ateda t acarved 
desk, h ad no t  discontinuedr eading from a gr e a tb lack  bo ok, and did  not even  cea s ewhi l e the  stra ng e rs crossed the room, m er ely ma kinga slight
incl ination wi t h his head , wh i le the ladies hal f ros e, rustled a slight 
reve rence wi th theirb l ack, gra y o r r uss ets k ir ts, but hardl y lift ed 
theireye s. Eust aci e t hou ght  t he Louvre  had nev er  b ee nhal f sof ormidabl eorim pre ssive . 

Thepagelift ed  a hea vy gree n  c u r tain  b eh indthe  c anopy , kn o cke d at adoor, and , a s  itop en ed, Eus tacie was con sc ious of adi gni fied p r e sence,
t hat, in spite of her pr e vious p etu lance , ca used herins tincti vel y  to
be nd insucharev e r encea s  h adfo rmerly bee n nat uralto  her ; but,at
the same moment ,  alow and magni fic entc u rt sey wa s  ma de toh e r, a hand
was h eld out, a  s t at ely kiss w a s o nher bro w, anda voi c e of di gnified
c ourtesy s ai d, ' P a rdo n me, Mada me la Ba ronne, fo r  givi n gyou t his 
troub le . I  fear ed tha t  ot herwi se weco uld no t saf el y meet.' 

'Madame is very good.  My Ra yonet te,  make thy  re v ere nce; kiss  thy  hand to
t helad y, my  la m b.' A nd t h elit t le on e ob e yed, gazi n gwit h he r blue eyes f u llopene d,a nd cli ngin g to her mother.'Ah! Madame la  Bar o n nemak e s he rs elf obeyed,' s aid  M a d ame de Q ui net,
well p leased.
 a_place of_assembly. A page of_high birth,_but_well schooled
in_steadiness_of demeanour, went_at once to_announce the arrival; and
Gardon_and his companion_had_not been many moments in conversation
with their acquaintance among the ministers, before the grave_gentleman
returned,_apparently from_his_audience_and the page, coming to_Eustacie,
intimated that she was to_follow him_to Madame le Duchesse's presence.

He conducted her across_a_great tapestry-hung saloon,_where twelve or
fourteen ladies of all ages--from seventy to_fifteen--sat at work: some
at tapestry, some_spinning, some making_coarse_garments_for the poor. A
great_throne-like chair, with a canopy over_it, a footstool, a desk
and a_small table before it, was vacant, and_the work--a poor child's
knitted cap--laid down;_but an elderly minister, seated_at a_carved
desk, had not discontinued reading_from a great_black book,_and did not
even_cease while the strangers crossed the_room, merely making_a slight
inclination with his head, while_the_ladies half rose,_rustled_a_slight
reverence with_their black, gray_or_russet skirts,_but_hardly lifted
their eyes. Eustacie thought the_Louvre_had never been half so
formidable or impressive.

The_page lifted a heavy_green_curtain behind the canopy,_knocked at a
door, and, as_it opened, Eustacie was conscious of_a dignified_presence,
that, in_spite of her previous petulance, caused her instinctively to
bend in such_a reverence as had formerly been_natural to her; but,_at
the same_moment,_a low and_magnificent_curtsey was_made to her, a hand
was held out,_a stately_kiss was on her brow, and_a voice of dignified
courtesy_said,_'Pardon me, Madame la Baronne, for_giving you this
trouble. I feared that_otherwise we could not safely_meet.'

'Madame_is_very good. My Rayonette, make_thy reverence; kiss thy hand to
the_lady, my lamb.'_And the little one obeyed, gazing with_her_blue eyes
full opened, and clinging to_her_mother.

'Ah! Madame la Baronne makes herself_obeyed,'_said_Madame de Quinet,
well pleased.