"`She has told me, mamma--mother Germain has told me. But why are you crying? You were not so unhappy when I went out this morning--and poor Francoise too!' "`It is only, my darling,' said the Countess, taking her little daughter upon her knee, `it is only that the summons has come rather sooner than I expected. A courier has arrived from Sarinet with letters from your uncle, desiring us to arrange for going there almost at once. He requires me to be there a few days before going on with him and the Marquise to Paris, for there is much to arrange. So, Edmee, my sweet, we must say good-bye to our dear home.' "It was hard, very hard, for Edmee to keep her resolution of doing nothing to add to her mother's distress. But she bravely drove back her tears, and throwing her arms round the Countess's neck, kissed her tenderly. "`Don't cry, dear little mother,' she said; `Madame Germain has been speaking to me, and I am going to be very good. I am going to learn my lessons in Paris so well, so very well, that you will be quite surprised how clever I shall become, and then we shall all the sooner be able to return to our dear Valmont. When are we to start, dear mamma? You see, I am going to be very good. You need not be afraid to tell me all, and she sat up, valiantly blinking away the tears that _would_, keep coming.' "The Countess was greatly relieved. "`My good Marie,' she said--`Marie' was Madame Germain's first name--`it is very kind of her to have spoken so wisely to my little girl, and it will make all easier for me. Yes, dear, it will be soon, very soon--the day after to-morrow we have to leave for Sarinet.' "`The day after to-morrow!' exclaimed Edmee. `Ah, yes, that is _very_ soon.' "But no other words of complaint or distress escaped her.