Happily, I had a
sponge and some warm water near, and I ran up with it and washed the
man's eyes, while the lady thanked me fervently, but the man growled
out:
'That is better; if women will come fussing over us with what they
don't understand--- You are the right sort; but for her---'
'Do not stop him,' hastily said the lady, with her hand on my arm.
'I love it! I rejoice in it! Do not deprive me, for the love of
Heaven!'
I knew who she was then, and Madame de Montausier told me I was
right; but that I must keep the secret; and so I did, till after
Queen Anne of Austria was dead. She would not let her rank deprive
her of the privilege of waiting on the poor, unknown and unthanked;
and many hours, when those who blamed her for indolence supposed her
to be in bed, she was attending the hospital.
Cecile was never strong enough to give her attendance there, but she
made clothes which were given to the patients when they came out. We
spent our mornings much as of old; the two elder children generally
went to mass with me at St. Germain l'Auxerrois, and if the day were
fine, I would take them for a few turns in the Tuileries Gardens
afterwards before I taught them their little lessons, and gave my
orders to the servants.
Then all the family met a breakfast, after which Gaspard had half an
hour more of study with the Abbe, for he was beginning Latin, and was
a very promising scholar. He prepared his tasks with me before
breakfast, and got on admirably.
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