'"You will give us your word," said Madame, with her most persuasive smile; and then Henrietta roused herself with a little sigh, and gave the promise required, repeating Madame St. Aubert's own words: "Yes, Madame, I give you my word of honour to say nothing of this matter, until I have your permission."
'There was so much effort and reluctance in her tone as she said this, that Colonel Dare's fierce little black eyes were turned upon her with a distrustful glance. "If you follow my counsel, Madame," said he, "you will request young mistress here to give that pledge again with her hand upon the Bible."
'Once more Henrietta's face lighted up with indignation. "I have given my promise already, sir," she said proudly. "May I go, Madame?" and scarcely waiting for Madame St. Aubert's nod of assent, she made her courtesy and left the room.
'"Ah! never fear. She is safe enough," said Madame reassuringly. "Henrietta's promise is as good as an oath."
'A doubtful "Humph!" was Colonel Dare's only reply; after which came the abrupt question: "Pray, who is she?"
'"One of the Gloucestershire Sidneys. A daughter of Mr. Sidney of Nettlewood."
'"James Sidney of Nettlewood!" Colonel Dare scowled more disagreeably than ever as he repeated this name. "That speaks for itself. The Duke and he have but little love lost between them. I suppose that proud, sullen-looking damsel of his is not likely to have any intercourse with her father just now?"
'Madame St. Aubert again assured him of Henrietta's trustworthiness, and then went on to explain all about the family and connections of Bessie and myself. I was astonished to find how much he had already heard of me and my history. Indeed he seemed, I thought, to know quite as much, if not more than I did myself, of my father, Sir Harry Mountfort, and my young husband, Lord Desmond. At Sir Harry's name, both he and Madame St. Aubert shook their heads ominously. "No hope of him—not a jot," they pronounced. "Hand and glove with the King; and the young Earl Desmond a minor, and of course wholly under his guardian's influence for the present." But of my father they spoke far less despondingly. Why, I could not imagine; for, as I remarked before, I had not the smallest idea of what his political opinions might be. Colonel Dare, however, seemed to have some reason for thinking that my father was inclined to favour the Duke of Monmouth's claims; and he made one or two attempts to find out whether I had ever heard anything let fall by him upon the subject; but discovering in a very little while how utterly ignorant I was, he ceased questioning me, and turned to Bessie, who was ready enough to answer anything that he chose to ask. She had been brought up by her uncle, Sir Geoffrey Davenant, a Somersetshire knight, living not many miles from Taunton; and it was in his house that she had learned her ardent devotion to the Duke of Monmouth. Sir Geoffrey's political principles were apparently as well known to the shrewd Colonel Dare as those of Henrietta's father and mine; and he seemed very well satisfied with what he drew from Bessie concerning her uncle and her uncle's friends.
'"If I should chance to see Sir Geoffrey before many days are out, I shall tell him that his kinswoman's heart is with us," was Colonel Dare's parting speech to Bessie when Madame St. Aubert at last dismissed us. "Oh, if I were only as rich as Henrietta, or Eleanor Page!" So exclaimed Bessie, as we ran up-stairs into the great bed-chamber where the six elder girls slept. None of them were there at present; and Bessie sat down upon her own bed, with one arm thrown round me, sighing out again, "If I was but as rich as Henrietta!"
'"Why do you want to be rich, Bessie? Do you want money so much just now?"