Eggs and fowls were
brought in from the farms, but plates and dishes, knives and forks,
were very scarce. Some of us were happy when we could roast an egg
in the embers for ourselves, and then eat it when it was hard enough,
and I thought how useful Annora would have been, who had done all
sorts of household work during the troubles at home. But we were
very merry over these devices.
The night was a greater difficulty. Most of the windows had no
frames nor glass in them, and hardly any one had a bed. Mademoiselle
slept in a long gallery, splendidly painted and gilt, but with the
wind blowing at every crevice through the shutters, no curtains; only
a few marble tables against the wall by way of furniture, and the
mattress spread upon the floor for her and her youngest sister, who
would not sleep unless she sang, and who woke continually.
I rolled up my two little boys in my great fur cloak, which I had
happily brought with me, for no one seemed disposed to take any
charge of poor little Mericour, and Nicolas fetches me the cushions
from the carriage, so that they were tolerably comfortable.
As to us ladies and gentlemen, we rejoiced that at least faggots
could be had. We made up a great fire, and sat round it, some
playing at cards, other playing at games, telling stories, or
reciting poetry, interspersed with the sillier pastime of love-
making. Every one nodded off to sleep, but soon to wake again,--and,
oh, how still we were, and how our bones ached after two such nights!
And the saddest and most provoking thing, at least to many of us, was
the high spirits of the Queen-Regent.
Pages:
211
212
213
214
215
216
217
218
219
220
221
222
223
224
225
226
227
228
229
230
231
232
233
234
235