Red Caps and Lilies

ainted pictures of cupids dancing. There had always been two men up on the high seat behind and two in front. Now there was only one man who was drivi

ed at him. Then she sat back on the blue velvet cushi

her her chocolate and petit pain and she had had her breakfast before she had been dressed. When she had come down to the great entrance hall her mother had been there, waiting. Lisle was there, too, and Hortense and Denise and Madame le Pont. The governess and the girls were ready for departure in their mantles and traveling hats. Maman had seemed dif

you will not have proper service, but I don't trust the other men servants. There may come a time later on when it will

d said, but she had sensed suddenly that there was danger. She had thought over again and again of her mother's remark: "There may come a time later on when it will not be so easy to get away. They may guard the gates if things get worse." Maman had, as always,

né had refused to allow her own child to leave her at the hurried conference in the middle of the night, after the bal masqué was hastily broken up. The sound of cannonading was heard, and alarming reports came in from all sides. It was like the Comtesse Saint Frère to act quickly. She had decided at once that the children, with the exception of Lisle, who refused to leave her, were to start at once for Pigeon Valley and had offered its hospitality to her friends. Madame de So

red of them. Once it had been a large, gilded, blue glass vase, another time a miniature of her great-grandfather, and once a red silk shawl which she had held in her arms pretending it was a baby, cooing to it and singing to it. But all that had been, of

is the little

ne shrugged h

e with them!" This time they all laughed, even Proté, who would not have dared to do so had they been acco

arningly at a fragrant stretch of green meadow. His eyes followed the sudde

e road. It was painted green and seemed a part of the rich August countryside. Neville stopped the h

d the young ladies can find refreshment here. T

looked out and excl

old m

roup looking across at the odd-shaped, mill-like structure that stood a little way back from the road, with its sign, "Food for Travelers," swaying in the light s

o come here? It seems odd findi

a dear place, as quaint as can be!"

the villages. That was the order of Madame la Comtesse. There is no real danger, of co

assent. "We will remain h

while they ate, asking with a curtsy every now and then, if there was anything more that they wished, or anything special that she could procure for them. She was particularly kind to Flam

ner. He is very tired of the journey and w

her name was Paulette, smile

, Little Mademoiselle. The other y

arie Josephine smiled happily at the da

came galloping up to the queer mill-i

other I suppose, little lady?" the wo

le indignantly, but the woman was walking away and did not seem to have heard her. Marie Josephi

rode well and was not in the least tired. When Madame le Pont suggested his coming into the coach for a while and letti

ed their hands at Bertran and rumbled on toward the forest. Two people in the coach did not wave. They were Madame le Pont and Marie Josephine. The latter was more than ever out of sorts with Bertran. It had come over her suddenly that it was

ike. When I wish to ride inside I shall do so, and when I d

k of Pigeon Valley. They grew more cheerful right away, and even Madame le Pont remarked that it was delightful to think of seeing Les Vignes again. She had purchased some fruit at the inn and Denise held

d back on the cushions, her cur

every now and then a startled bird would make a great stir in the trees or underbrush as they dashed along. Marie Josephine did not realize what she had said at first, but when they all turned and looked

e at the ball when you were fast

ne had been hiding in the balcony. There was a twinkle in her blue eyes as she looked a

e said this with a relish. She was tired, and she had always had a habit of keep

that about Hortense dancing at the b

ticoat was feeding at a moss-covered wooden trough. Denise kept her eyes on Marie Josephine, who held Flambeau's paws as the dog looked interestedly at the pigs. Marie Josephine kne

rested and excited. She had not at first really believed that her sister had gone to the ball and had kept on the subject because

me, Proté, did you not aid Mademoiselle

e comtesse, been with them, but none of them were very much in awe of Madame le Pont. T

. It was so wrong for Little Mademo

surprise, did not seem in any way as horrified as they had expect

many things are happenin

had always been so fond of the conventions! She did not even seem to realize what Marie Josephine had done, and she said nothing at all to Proté, who sat looking

am glad. I was excited and didn't re

P

old blue lining, the warm August sun streaming in, bringing with it the odor of freshly cut hay and oats, thin rows of poplars rising against the startling blue of the sky, and the peasant women bending over their work in the field beyond. She could see Denise's astonished gaze, fr