“A new lady’s maid who has been engaged for me, and who has just arrived.”
“The idea of disturbing me for a lady’s maid! What have I to do with such matters? Really, Ernestine, you wear out my patience.”
“Oh! don’t be cross with me, papa! But as mamma is away, you must see my new maid; I can’t manage the house all alone!”
“Well! bring her in,” rejoined Monsieur de Noirmont in a gentler tone; “where is she? let us have it over.”
Ernestine led Louise into the room; the girl cast down her eyes, and felt that she was trembling, for Monsieur de Noirmont’s voice was far from being as sweet as his daughter’s.
After scrutinizing for some time the village maid who stood before him, Monsieur de Noirmont asked her:
“How old are you?”
Before Louise could reply, little Ernestine exclaimed:
“She is seventeen; isn’t she very tall for her age, papa? and isn’t she lovely? I like her so much! Her name is Louise; she has never been in service, but I am glad of that, because I can train her according to my ideas.”
Monsieur de Noirmont with difficulty restrained a smile, provoked by his daughter’s speech.