Madame Bastien usually saw David several times a day.
One day he did not make his appearance at all.
When supper-time came Marguerite went to tell him that the meal was on the table, but David bade the servant say to Madame Bastien that, not feeling very well, would she kindly excuse him for not coming down as usual?
Frederick, too, refused to leave his room, so Marie, for the first time since Henri David's arrival, spent the evening alone.
This loneliness caused a feeling of profound depression, and she was assailed by all sorts of gloomy presentiments.
When she went to her room about eleven o'clock, her son was asleep, or pretended to be asleep, so sadly and silently she slipped on a wrapper and let down her long hair, preparatory to brushing it for the night, when old Marguerite, coming in as usual to inquire if her mistress wanted anything before retiring, remarked, as she was about to withdraw:
"I forgot to ask you if André could have the horse and cart to go to Pont Brillant to-morrow morning, madame?"
"Yes," answered Marie, abstractedly.
"You know why André has got to go to the village, don't you, madame?"
"No," replied Marie, with the same deeply absorbed air.