"Will you be silent, woman?" said she, wrathfully.
Mrs. Gratacap was about to answer; but Maurice silenced her by a reproving look, and then asked again,—
"What has happened? Why does my father seem so much distressed?"
"I have been preparing his mind"—began the countess.
Mrs. Gratacap broke in, "Upsetting his mind, you mean."
Before Madame de Gramont could answer, Maurice said to the nurse, in a persuasive tone, "Pray leave us, for a little while, Mrs. Gratacap."
"I wouldn't contrary you for the world!" returned the nurse. "Only when she's done, just you come to me and I'll give you the rights of the case."
Mrs. Gratacap departed, and the countess continued,—
"I have been explaining to your father that we are shortly to leave this execrable country and return to Brittany, and that he has great cause for congratulation; but he did not seem to comprehend me clearly, and that woman, who is always intruding her opinions, chose to imagine that he was groaning and crying out on account of what I said. The liberties she takes become more intolerable every day; she is enough to drive your father distracted."
"What does she mean?" asked Count Tristan, piteously. "Where do they want to take me? I'm not going."