They parted soon afterwards, and Adrienne again wondered how things would work out under a new regime. The old servants were devoted to her cousin; she could fancy with what joy they would hear the news, but how they would welcome the child was doubtful. "Well," she told herself resolutely, "I shan't worry myself about it. As soon as I have settled Aunt Cecily in Orleans, I must get back to Uncle Derrick, and Cousin Guy must get on as best he can." CHAPTER XV ILLNESS AT THE CHÂTEAU IT was nearly three weeks later. The Countess would not hurry her departure for Orleans. She continually postponed the date. The Bouveries without a word suddenly disappeared from the village. Their furniture was removed from their house to Paris, after they had themselves departed. The village and neighbourhood regarded their disappearance with great composure. They were not popular, and relief was uppermost in most people's minds. It was all managed very quietly. Guy appeared satisfied, for his lawyer had promptly settled up everything, and Adrienne declared that their exodus was like a bad taste gone from her mouth. She was beginning to be a little restive about her Aunt's procrastination. She felt uneasy about her uncle. She hardly ever heard from him, and he was generally a very good correspondent. Guy's little son had attached himself to her in a very marked way. He had been brought up to the Château by his father and introduced to the Countess. She was pleased to approve of his manners, as he kissed her hand in the same pretty way as he had kissed Adrienne's; but he was absolutely dumb before her, and in pity, Adrienne took him away into the garden, where he suddenly overwhelmed her with a torrent of words: "I love you. I don't want anybody else. The old lady is my grand-mère, is she not? I do not want to be near her. She looks at me, and I don't like her eyes. May I come and play in this garden often? I don't like the farm. They jabber words I don't understand. And Dad says I must learn French, so as to speak to them. But Ray the dog there, he understands me when I speak English. Am I an English boy or a French boy? I don't want to be two boys. Can you play cricket?" Adrienne produced out of her pocket a ball, bought in the village that morning, and with the addition of a flat piece of wood found in the tool-house, she and Alain were soon playing a game on the lawn. He was loath to part with her when the Countess sent for her, and began to cry in a quiet hopeless fashion. His father found him in tears behind a big shrub and asked him if he had hurt himself. "No, but just when I begin to be happy, it stops," he sobbed. "That's the way with most of us," said his father cheerfully; "but only babies and fools cry." He took out his handkerchief and wiped the tears away from Alain's face.