"She will be devoted to your service," she said. "Her name is Jeanette. Her room is above yours and, when you ring this bell, she will wait upon you at once."
Esperance threw herself on her bed, still dressed, for her heart was overflowing.
"Ah! why, why is Albert so trusting? Why did he let me come here?
Would it not have been better to have run the risk of offending the
Duchess?"
And when Genevieve tried to reason with her, "I am suffering, little sister," she replied, "I am so unhappy; for the sight of the Duke at the window distressed me. I tremble at the idea of seeing him again, and yet I long for the time when I can give him my hand."
"But this is serious," said Genevieve. "I thought you had recovered from all that nonsense, or rather, I thought you would be less affected."
She helped Esperance to undress. The poor child let her do so without a word.
She slept badly, haunted by dreams and troubled with nightmare. At six o'clock in the morning she woke up feverishly, and rang for the maid.
The little Breton appeared five minutes later, her eyes still full of sleep, her cap crooked.
"Will you get me a little warm water?" asked Esperance. "It is cold
from the tap."
"It is too early, I am afraid. Mademoiselle must please to wait a little."