“‘Tell me, have you written? Do they know? I have waited so long for some message.’ “‘Yes, I have wrote; and they do know, and _la mère n’est pas morte_, as I tell you, but lives in Millfield the same. More I tell you _plus tard_,’ was Eugenie’s reply. “And the next moment Anna had fainted. “The shock was too great for her, and with a little gasping cry, which sounded like ‘mother,’ she fell across Eugenie’s lap, where she lay unconscious, while the excitable Frenchwoman screamed lustily for help. Celine and Fred had just come out upon the open gallery which ran entirely round the court and connected with the sleeping rooms on the third floor. “Both heard the cry, and both started for the rescue, but _la femme Anglaise_ outstripped Celine, and taking Anna in her arms as if she had been a child, exclaimed: “‘Where is her room? Let me take her to it.’ “‘_Oui, oui_, I show you,’ Celine replied, as she led the way to her mistress’s room, ejaculating ‘_Mon Dieu!_ what strength slim people must have to carry madame so.’ “Oh, how tenderly Fred held his unconscious sister, never thinking of her weight, thinking only that he had her in his arms, and could press his boyish lips against hers, and hug her to his bosom. Very gently he laid her upon the bed, and then stood back while restoratives were applied, until she opened her eyes and showed signs of returning consciousness. “‘She hold _l’enfant_ too long in her weak state, and just fainted sudden,’ Eugenie explained to Madame Verwest, who cared for Anna until she seemed wholly herself and declared that she was as well as ever, but would like to be rather quiet, with no one to sit with her but Madame Arschinard. “‘She never tires me,’ she said. “And so the two had tea together in Anna’s room, and were waited upon by Celine, so there was no chance for further conversation until the next morning after the late breakfast, when Eugenie invited Anna to her room, where the _soi-disant_ Fanny was busy arranging her mistress’s wardrobe in the closet and drawers. “At her Anna did not even glance, but she knew she was in the room, and felt anxious for her to leave, as the presence of a third party would necessarily prevent her from questioning Eugenie with regard to Millfield. But Fanny was apparently in no hurry to leave, and it seemed to Anna that she was purposely dawdling and taking a long time to accomplish a little. “Anna was occupying the seat which Eugenie offered her, near the window, and directly facing Fanny, whose movements could all be seen if one chose to watch her; and despairing of her quitting the apartment, Anna began at last to watch her as she moved from box to closet or shelf, sometimes with her face turned full toward the window where Anna sat, and sometimes with her back that way. At last, as Anna made no sign of recognition, Eugenie said: “‘Fanny, have you found that box of bon-bons?’