And we
were neither of us young enough to think that even the most constant
love could make it fit to drag Millicent into beggary. Yet still I
could see that Eustace did not give up hope. The more I began to
despond, the more cheerful he became. Was not the King in Scotland,
and when he entered England as he would certainly do next summer,
would not all good Cavaliers--yes, and all the Parliament men who had
had enough of the domineering of General Cromwell--rise on his
behalf? My brother was holding himself in readiness to obey the
first summons to his standard, and when he was restored, all would be
easy, and he could offer himself to Millicent worthily.
Moreover, my mother had written something about a way that had opened
for accommodating the suit respecting the property in Picardy, and
Eustace trusted the report all the more because our brother Solivet
had also written to urge his recall, in order to confer with his
antagonist, the Comte de Poligny, respecting it. So that, as the
dear brother impressed on me, he had every reason for hoping that in
a very different guise; and his hopes raised mine, so that I let them
peep through the letter with which I returned the jewels to
Millicent.
CHAPTER XXVII
THE EXPEDIENT
(Annora's Narrative)
And what was this expedient of their? Now, Madame Meg, I forewarn
you that what I write here will be a horror and bad example to all
your well-brought-up French grandchildren, demoiselles bien elevees,
so that I advise you to re-write it in your own fashion, and show me
up as a shocking, willful, headstrong, bad daughter, deserving of the
worst fate of the bad princesses in Madame d'Aulnoy's fairly tales.
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