“Cheer up, dear; the air and flowers will restore you. In a week you will be able to pay a visit to the Dauphiness who has kindly asked after you, I hear.”
“I hope so, for her Highness has been good to me; to you in promoting you to be captain in her guards, and to father, who was induced by her benevolence to leave our miserable country house.
“Speaking of your miraculous escape,” said Philip, “I should like to know more about the rescue.”
Andrea blushed and seemed ill at ease. Either he did not remark it or would not do so.
“I thought you knew all about it,” said she; “father was perfectly satisfied.
“Of course, dear Andrea, and it seemed to me that the gentleman behaved most delicately in the matter. But some points in the account seemed obscure—I do not mean suspicious.”
“Pray explain,” said the girl with a virgin’s candor.
“One point is very out of the way—how you were saved. Kindly relate it.”
“Oh, Philip,” she said with an effort, “I have almost forgotten—I was so frightened.”
“Never mind—tell me what you do remember.”