Félicie looked up quickly, and said, "Madame a dit que non."
Félicie always lied in her native tongue, and this was but an additional proof to me that madame had said no such thing, and I told her so, rather strongly. Grace came in just then, and Félicie appealed to her for confirmation.
"Certainly," said Grace, promptly, "mamma's last charge was that Esther should not go out of the nursery; so, missy, you may just make yourself easy where you are. Don't suppose everybody is going to spoil you like your precious cousin there."
Essie still clung tightly round my neck; much, however, as my pride rebelled, there was no way but to submit to the orders they promulged. So, carrying her back to the bed, and loosening her arms from my neck, I put her down with,
"No matter, sweetheart; if Mahomet brings his work, and sits down by the mountain, that will do as well, will it not?"
"I don't know what you mean," said the child, uneasily.
"She means to plague you, Esther; she's been scolded this morning, and she's in bad humor," said Grace.
"Don't throw stones, Miss Grace," I retorted. "I wasn't sent away from the table, if I was scolded."
"Mamma'll never forget your performance last night, the longest day she lives," continued Grace. "I never saw her half so angry before. In fact, from all accounts, you must have got it from all quarters, but what Mr. Rutledge said was the worst."
"What did he say, pray?"