“Farewell, princess,” he said in a choking voice.
“Farewell, my lord, till soon we meet again!” was the reply. The Archduchess gave an imperial smile and showed majestic disdain for court etiquet, by replying.
“Choiseul forever!” shouted an enthusiastic voice close upon these words.
Andrea turned rapidly towards the speaker, for she knew the voice.
“Room, make room there,” roared the royal squires, forcing Gilbert, pale and hot with getting to the front to see into the line along the roadside ditch.
It was indeed our hero, who had in a fit of philosophical fervor, shouted for Choiseul.
CHAPTER XII.
ANDREA IN FAVOR.
AT three in the afternoon Mdlle. de Taverney came out of her rooms dressed to perform her duty as reader to the princess.
On reaching the Trianon Summerhouse she was told that her mistress was in the grounds with her architect and head-gardener. In the upper story could be heard the whizz of the turning-lathe with which the Dauphin was busy making a safety lock for a chest which he thought a great deal of.
To join the Dauphiness, Andrea crossed the garden where, although the season had come on the pale flowers were lifting their heads to catch the fleeting rays of a still paler sun. Dark came at six, and the gardeners were covering the plants from the frost with glass bells.