Surprised but glad, Andrea ran to meet the chevalier, who dismounted from his horse and was asking if his sister could be seen.
She opened the door herself to him, embraced him, and the pair went up into her rooms. It was only there that she perceived that he was sadder than usual, with sorrow in his smile. He was dressed in his stylish uniform with the utmost exactness and he had his horseman’s cloak rolled up under his left arm.
“What is the matter, Philip?” she asked, with the instinct of affectionate souls for which a glance is sufficient revelation.
“Sister, I am under orders to go and join my regiment at Rheims.”
“Oh, dear!” and Andrea exhaled in the exclamation part of her courage and her strength.
Natural as it was to hear of his departure, she felt so upset that she had to cling to his arm.
“Gracious, why are you afflicted to this decree?” he asked, as to shed. “It is a common thing in a soldier’s life. And the journey is nothing to speak of. They do say the regiment is to be sent back to Strasburg in all probability.”
“So you have come to bid me farewell?”
“That is it. Have you something particular to say?” he questioned, made uneasy by her grief, too exaggerated not to be founded.
Nicole was looking on at the scene with surprise for the leave-taking of an officer going to his garrison was not a catastrophe to be received by tears. Andrea understood this emotion, and she put on her lace mantilla to accompany her brother through the grounds to the outer gate.