"He couldn't write if he were," said Josette, guessing her mistress's fears.
"Quick! quick!" cried Mademoiselle Cormon, as soon as she had read the first lines. "Tell Jacquelin to harness Penelope— Get ready, Josette; pack up everything in half an hour. We must go back to town—"
"Jacquelin!" called Josette, excited by the sentiment she saw on her mistress's face.
Jacquelin, informed by Josette, came in to say,—
"But, mademoiselle, Penelope is eating her oats."
"What does that signify? I must start at once."
"But, mademoiselle, it is going to rain."
"Then we shall get wet."
"The house is on fire!" muttered Josette, piqued at the silence her mistress kept as to the contents of the letter, which she read and reread.
"Finish your coffee, at any rate, mademoiselle; don't excite your blood; just see how red you are."