His paper mother E-Book

Max du Veuzit

• Herausgeber: Books on Demand
• Kategorie: Gesellschafts- und Liebesromane
• Sprache: Englisch

Seitenzahl: 322

Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2019

Beschreibung

Invited to Sologne for a hunting trip, Lord Blackenfield fell off his horse and was cared for by the gamekeeper's daughter, Nicole Grammont, whom he married shortly afterwards. Nicole's simple and spontaneous manner displeases her husband, who reproaches her without indulgence. - You must not behave here like the daughter of a gamekeeper! he once told her at the height of anger. - I forbid you to talk to me like that," she replied, "my father was a well-behaved man and did not insult women! Rather than endure humiliation after humiliation, Lady Blackenfield, who had touched the bottom of all the bitterness, fled, leaving her son Michaëlis to her husband, who intended to assume his education alone. The cup is full.... And every evening, in front of his mother's portrait, the child lays a few flowers. "That's a paper mom... It's an image... like in books. Will he ever see her again?

Leseprobe

His paper mother

Pages de titreFirst part12345678910111213Second part1 - 12 - 13 - 14 - 15 - 16 - 17 - 18 - 19 - 110 - 1Third part1 - 22 - 23 - 24 - 25 - 26 - 27 - 28 - 29 - 210 - 211 - 112 - 113 - 1Fourth part1 - 32 - 33 - 34 - 35 - 3Copyright

Max the Veuzit

His paper mother

Max the Veuzit is the pen name of Alphonsine Zéphirine Vavasseur, born in Petit-Quevilly 29 October 1876 and died in Bois-Colombes 15 April 1952. It is a French language writer, author of numerous romance novels with great success.

First part

1

- Hello, Delphie, good Delphie! I'm so glad to see you!

Standing at the threshold of the house where she watched the arrival of his masters, the old servant clasped her hands in a gesture of surprise amazed:

- Miss Nicole! That is, there God can you finally come back? You Blowin! It is there you bin?

- Yes, Delphie! Here I am ! I assure you it's me, and alive! ...

Living, certainly, it was the cool girl who had jumped nimbly out of the car stopped at the door! Now she advanced to Delphie light and lively and, taking her in his arms, kissed her cheeks happily old wrinkled like dried apples.

- Yes, my good Delphie, I'll be forever live at home. Finished the boarding school, religious brave and classmates! Dad and live freedom! Live my old Delphie and all hosts in the Ragon, including dogs, chickens and ducks!

A deep bow punctuated the end of this joyful cheers.

A broad smile broadened the face of the old.

- Ah! missy Nicole, always the same! It's ben true that you remained the cute dear old ... always cheerful, always cajoling and making me do all your wishes! ... You were my little! ... Still, she continued deeply moved, you are not a child! It's a real girl ... very beautiful and very big you become Blowin!

- Of course I'm a real girl! Nicole exclaimed, laughing. I just turned eighteen, do not forget, Delphie ...! A real girl, for sure ... As for being nice and large, she added with a funny little pout, that's another story!

- Oh ! so to speak! murmured the old woman almost indignant. I, who have never seen anything so cute!

Admittedly, the last term was appropriate, indeed, much better than Nicole big and beautiful. She was, in truth, cute at will with regular and gentle figure of unquestionable charm. She had beautiful blue eyes and an almost golden chestnut hair; but it was rather small and its expression was something very childish yet.

If it had not proclaimed proudly as his eighteen years, we could only give him five. His body, however, was well proportioned, and all his gestures, supple and alive, were harmonious.

She repeated:

- Oh ! Delphie! as I am!

And, before crossing the threshold of the house, she turned to a man still young, the energetic face, tanned skin, who had just come down from the car and who took care to collect the luggage.

- Come quickly, darling daddy! Let all these packages and just do me the honors of home.

She spoke in a commanding tone and spoiled child hug.

The man looked up and smiled, his eyes suddenly illuminated by the spring thanks to the small.

- From us, my Nicou, he corrected with tenderness.

He put his arm fragile shoulders and thus both entered the large room on the ground floor.

- You see, little girl ... nothing has changed. Your room is ready: the house is waiting for you, too!

After the beautiful clarity of this sunny morning, the hall seemed rather dark, and what was perceived above all, on entering, it was this peculiar smell the old country houses where they keep very close, the fruit orchard and when we do, most of the year, large wood fires in a century old hearth.

That morning, a good aroma of ripe peaches dominated and Nicole found in this fragrance with hints of smoke, the atmosphere welcoming of the house which charmed her at each arrivals for the holidays.

It was good, that: it good to see the familiar furniture, so simple, black oak; naive flowers picked by Delphie and until this strange feeling to find every room in the house smaller than it had remained in his memory ... It came undoubtedly from his eyes accustomed to large study rooms and dormitories huge boarding school ... compare unintentionally recorded his retina.

Ordinarily, Nicole attached little importance to the familiar things; she came to the Ragon for a few days or weeks' vacation time. This time, the girl examined more carefully; they took it for a new look ... because the house was not a passenger setting, but because she was really living there ... because the house was going to be his domain.

Already, she threw on things a reformer glance and organizer ... The two months she had spent in Germany to improve it a little in the language she had learned at the school and had him opened many insights about the usefulness of certain arrangements and precious commodity of some new development.

His head on it, was stuffed projects; but, for the moment, she was a joy to return ... If there were changes to be made in the old house, we would see later.

That day, she was content to be fully happy ... So happy, above all, to find his father!

She gave him coaxingly arms around his neck; and forcing him to lean a little to be able to kiss her, she murmured in a kiss in his ear:

- We will no longer leaving, my daddy? Have you thought about this miracle? Just not on vacation this year! I have to stay always with you! That's what is going to be chic!

She snuggled against the strong fatherly shoulder happy this deep affection and the mutual trust that united them both and who met fully all tenderness needs of her young heart.

- Oh ! yes, my Nicou, your presence with me myself going soft! Long ago I want this moment, I assure you.

- So why did you leave me so long away from you? You should have me back immediately after I had spent my patent.

- It was not, my child. I understand and you have explained, at that time. Our pavilion Ragon is a charming place ... when you love the solitude and the forest! But, finally, he is lost in the woods, isolated from everything, and we must admit that it offers no resource for education of a girl ... I sacrificed part with you two more years ... I can tell you now that it's over ...

- Oh ! dear father! I understood ... however ...

- I had to, Nicou ... I wanted you perfected in the accomplishments and also that you live in a gay environment with your age mates. Now you have friends with whom you will correspond and you must invite here ... I do not want you to find yourself alone or that you're bored with your old dad ...

- Shh! exclaimed Nicole by putting her hand on her father's mouth. Hush! my dad. Do not say bad things, I can nowhere be happier than from you ...

Lucien Grammont smiled a little melancholy.

"This child was sincere, today; but he knew that one day she would wish something else ... another love, another presence ...

Is this another tender would be as good?

"Ah! her, he loved her so much! He had concentrated on this single child all the love he had had for the young woman too soon delighted in his love ... to Nicole's mother that she had hardly known ...

"For the child, he wanted to be both the father and mother; he had wanted to give him strong protection of his human heart with all the gentle caresses that would have lavished absent ... It was not necessary, is not it? the little girl suffer the left blank, at home, by the death of the mother? ... "

The man kissed Nicole and concludes:

- We will also be happy one than the other, not to leave us ... Come on, my little Nicou, just renew acquaintance with your bedroom and make the necessary ablutions after your long journey ... Then we have lunch !

In her room, the girl found the roses on the table by the bed and on the mantelpiece. It was her father himself who had picked them and arranged in vases she loved.

Nicole smiled, a little moved this almost feminine attention that would not have expected to find in one so energetic that Lucien was Grammont, first huntsman of the Duke de la Muette, whose will a little rough dominated all suborders.

Grammont, indeed, by business rather than by temperament, had to deploy a firm authority with all staff hunting and guard of the powerful lord, he had the upper hand on everything that was related to hunting, and its activity tireless should let nothing that could harm the good performance of crew, any more than the monitoring of land and wood that had to watch the game.

Good family, a kind of gentleman-farmer, Grammont was formerly known prosperous days and freely lived on a property bequeathed by his parents and he ran himself land.

The war, ruining it completely, forced him to be placed in others to support himself and to the educational costs of her little Nicole.

It was his current situation to one of his former comrades, comrade bad days, the Duke de la Muette, owner of a large estate, beautifully organized for large hunts, and had offered to fill in her general guard duties and first drill.

The Duke was master of one of the last turnout in France and also was proud of his title of Wolfcatcher Royal as his ancestors had been that of huntsman, worn by several of them, under the old monarchy.

We hunted with hounds on the lands of La Muette, several times a year. This required one of the best packs this time and all personal guards, valets, bloodhounds and whippers and ranchers and touts as the Duke de la Muette, very modern, not above the hunting shooting and farms of his domain were carefully arranged.

People and animals were therefore under Nicole's father's supervision. It was a situation that suited perfectly to it. It enjoyed a certain freedom, at the same time he could use his need to act, his leadership qualities and his energy a little rough.

We knew just perfectly honest, and as hard for himself than for others; also, he was loved as much as respected by his subordinates.

Good salary and housing in this beautiful pavilion Ragon, built in the eighteenth century, in the forest, an hour walk from the castle, assured him complete independence.

Overall, Grammont was content with his lot, and well-being ensured for Nicole, he wanted nothing beyond the friendly confidence that it reserved the Duke.

Sometimes he liked to say of himself that he was in reality a mere gamekeeper; but it was this finding without bitterness and with good humor. He had always loved the land and the woods and felt neither embarrassed in his tastes nor humiliated in front of his master, who, with a simple nobleman, treated him as a comrade when both were brothers in arms in the trench, and threatened with the same dangers.

But what Grammont had appreciated especially in the financial benefits of its location, it was the opportunity to give his dear Nicole an education worthy of their place of old, especially worthy of exquisite and refined woman had been mother of his daughter. So he had sent it into one of the best residential neighborhood of Paris.

It was a fashionable middle, but few quite open to modern life. The proximity to the capital was taken away by no means a provincial character and slightly outdated. Nicole came out at eighteen, sufficiently educated, speaking German, knowing embroidery and sewing; she painted to perfection, sang and played the piano with skill but knew nothing of the world and the realities of existence.

His father, however, was the charming way. On the whole science of worldly conventions that little ignorant so carefree, he preferred this ingenuity, this charm and natural ease that she brought in everything.

Sitting across from her at the breakfast table, he contemplated her with satisfaction.

On the dazzling sheet of white, flowery china plates, fresh bread and tasty side with the jug of new wine.

Amid this country decor, dressed in a light dress chiffon with pink dots, Nicole looked a little princess of legend, came from a distant land to illuminate the silent youth flag under the black pines.

However, as she cheerfully told an adventure that had happened to him during his trip to Germany, his smile and his enthusiasm seemed to align even more with this medium rustic but in good taste.

Lucien Geraardsbergen this perceived adaptability to his daughter, and was delighted. He translated his delight in these words:

- It's funny, my little Nicou, that I am to see you there in front of me. I think you were there yesterday ... before yesterday ... always ... You're so good at this place that I cannot remember how was this table when you were not sitting ... your smile, your babble ... I cannot picture to myself that I could live without my dear little lark!

- Good, Dad! cried the child happily. That way, you never see clearly to separate me from you. I'm glad, too to be here, I assure you! You'll see how I'll organize us a delicious life together. I want your happiness, as thy rest, or to be with your Nicou.

The man smiled, moved so suddenly that moisture had trouble not tarnish his eyes.

Behind the half-closed shutters, the August sun faded the hollyhocks. You could hear the joyful hum of bees in the great light ... In Ragon, everything was peaceful, joyful, since Nicole was sitting there in front of the man ...

Grammont and Lucien smiled, not considering nothing but the continuation of this happiness alone.

2

One after another, each window was opened ...

The shutters clattered against the wall, all pink little face Nicole appeared in the doorway for a moment, then it was the turn of another window to open to the clarity and crisp air. After a moment, the entire pavilion aspired by the morning breeze all openings yawning Forest.

The hour was still fresh, and Nicole took advantage of that moment when the heat was not oppressive for the great review of his new fiefdom.

Obviously, she knew her dear pavilion Ragon where every corner evoked for her the best hours of his childhood. While wishing to make it more comfortable interior with a more suitable to the new demands of modern life, she would have wanted for anything in the world, change the simple and graceful harmony of the eighteenth-century façade, with its three large doors on the ground floor and round skylights illuminating the first floor rooms.

The Ragon was a former appointment of hunting like the old Sologne forest still hiding under their foliage. It was small, simple and elegant.

One piece was quite large proportions. It was the former meeting room of the hunters. Grammont had established a kind of office, in charge of papers more or less in order, and where even rose to the table where he ate every day and his old chair, posed by the fire in winter, near the door in the summer, where he smoked his pipe dreamily every night.

This piece and the monastic chamber where he came just to sleep were the only places in the house he lived.

The rest of the pavilion remained closed, except the kitchen and the little room Delphie of it in the attic.

With Nicole, life and youth had entered the Ragon. All opened and laughed in the morning sun, or the impalpable and light mist, heralding a beautiful day.

The day after his arrival, the girl had made an inspection, examined the resources hidden in attics, or valuable content forgotten in large cabinets.

Now, sitting on the floor of his room, amid heaps of white muslin, the girl combined and carved.

This lasted several days ...

After a week she went to get his father and taking him by the hand, she led him to the threshold of his small room, everything was transformed there.

The old-fashioned wooden bed had disappeared. A sofa formed the mattress and the mattress had replaced. The old starched muslin curtains, rejuvenated and intersected, both veiled round windows, and a create happiness of the day, a little unvarnished but a nice shape, and a small dresser curved finishing their style to this alcove simple.

- Congratulations, my Nicou! You're a real fairy!

- And you would like to arrange a little the great hall?

- I'd be delighted, my boy ... It's all my youth, back when your mother was alive, that thou wilt revive ...

So encouraged, the girl attacked the rest of the house.

Everything was upset.

For policy - and especially because the food was very good as a kitchen - Nicole refrained from touching the field Delphie.

She, on the contrary, many nice compliments to the old woman and so got his help its removal.

It was agreed that the father and daughter eat in a small room next to the office as the great room.

- This way Delphie, you will have less work to do to bring the dishes ...

And good old, all happy, helped his best young housewife to continue its arrangements. She washed and ironed without complaining, old toile de Jouy to characters with whom Nicole was going to give a nice touch to the new dining room.

- Oh ! not 'lady! It is not credible to do all this so clean and pretty with old rags ...

But the masterpiece of the girl, it was the studio!

Thus was called now, the hall transformed and rejuvenated the most modern way possible.

A large sofa, covered in a corner of flowery chintz; some shelves to put the books against the walls; another old chintz, decorated with red and blue birds to make gays curtains doors; everywhere, on the couch, the chairs, brightly colored cushions; everywhere, large glazed clay pots filled with flowers ...

Naturally, all this had not been done in a day.

Weeks had passed, months too!

Lucien Grammont, happy to see her daughter so much interest in beautifying the house, helped him as much as he could. He even had the surprise to install the wireless, which in this remote corner of the forest, was a valuable distraction.

The father had been a moment the fear that Nicole bored at Ragon.

Missing most of the day, busy with his tours of inspection on all points of the vast area where the houses were scattered guards and the net pens, he feared the loneliness for the girl.

But Nicole unfolded such activity, that time could hardly weigh him; Each time the man came home, he heard his daughter laugh or sing and Grammont was quickly reassured.

Truly, Nicole was happy. For now, this active and free life enough for all his wishes ...

October came, the forest had coated its sumptuous gold coat and purple chestnut mingled with the bright yellow of the trees, the dark ocher of majestic oaks.

For the first time, Nicole saw the woods in all their glory and she was pleased to accompany his father on his rounds. So they did long walks in this wonderful autumn scenery.

Then came a few gusts shake the forests, and that was on the floor a wonderful carpet, the entire range of colors as well as under the feet of the peaks.

The first came kisses, before the big hunt. Nicole waiting for this moment with impatient curiosity ...

His soul in wonder, throbbed with excitement to the story was that his father pumps lavish a great hunt ... And the child wondered if she had not brought so hard to beautify of his house, simply because she knew that the Duke and his guests were sometimes rest there ...

Without realizing it, Nicole was perhaps at the bottom of herself longing for another life ... a life richer ... the one his father and his ancestors had once known. ..

3

One morning, Nicole shuddered, opening his window the cold came suddenly.

The vast melancholy ponds hemmed ice; the hardened soil resonated under the feet; one night was enough to drive away the last leaves still hanging on trees.

- Soon the Duke de la Muette announce my arrival, Grammont said to her daughter. The guards reported me fresh traces of wild boars and I telegraphed to Duke this good news.

- Oh ! Nicole cried, delighted. As will interest me, a hunt!

- It is mainly the work that will give us every second. For two or three days, you will not see me much; I will have to ensure everything ... The first hunting always requires a little more attention.

- But I ?

- You also get the preparations. Do not forget that you are now the hostess at Ragon.

- And you think the hunt will be conducted here?

- Probably ... Usually, unless unforeseen, it ends on the side of the Four Paths, to North Pond ... It's not far from here and it is a tradition that hunters come rest and warm up in Ragon.

- Oh ! father! This will of intimidating, all these people I do not know!

- Come, my Nicou, do not do the little wild! The Duc de la Muette will be very glad to see you, he always asks me from you ... You know, that one; You know how it is chic with us ... I am confident that you will be delighted to receive it.

- Oh ! yes, him! ... But others?

- Bah! others will be also very nice ... Why do they intimidate you? It will be cold, they will be happy to find a good fire in a house so beautifully arranged by my little fairy ... My Nicou offer them a good grog with cinnamon Delphie which has the secret. This hot beverage completed put them in a good mood. You'll see how you'll be happy yourself that they came to Ragon.

- Oh ! Father, you're good! Nicole cried. You always find what to say to reassure me and encourage me.

The man put an emotional kiss on the forehead of her child.

- I wish so much, my little girl, you make it easier ... Your poor mother, unfortunately, is no longer by your side to guide you, it must be that I am trying to replace.

- My beloved dad, Nicole said softly in response.

And tenderly the girl put her arms around the neck of his father and returned her caresses.

From that day, Nicole had only one thought in mind: to prepare the Ragon to receive the guests of the Duke de la Muette.

She wanted that flag all was clear and resplendent; The cozy house, adorned with flowers and offering the most comfort possible. She accustomed Delphie to serve properly and quickly a cup of tea or a drink. She herself wanted to be able to improvise on the fly, in this forgotten corner, any snack.

The old servant, constantly alerted by the girl, although grumbled a bit at the beginning:

- At my age, you will his little routine as usual and everything is done anyway without need so many repetitions!

But his big clumsy hands got used, unbeknownst to him, to deftly handle the lace doilies, fine china and crystal light; so that after a week, Nicole met, kissed the old woman on both cheeks by awarding him the title of first lady's maid of Sologne:

- You're amazing, good Delphie! Our visitors will be amazed when the time comes. Your service will be impeccable if they have one idea: you rob me tie you to their home.

- Oh ! Nicou mademoiselle, will you please shut up! What would I do at my age, away from you and your father? It's been twenty years that I have not left it ... It would be nice to see that I give you, I have high, to go with strangers! In here, you there ideas to tell!

- Do not get angry, dear. I know, you, you will not leave me because I cannot live without you; but I'm happy to be proud of you; I will be happy that everyone admires you and wants to own a pearl of your kind.

The old woman, touched and flattered, no longer protested. Basically, she was herself delighted "to show everyone she knew as much, for the service, all decked lackeys of the city and all the maids in white aprons of the earth"!

Soon, a telegram from the Duke Muette to the chief guard came to tell it to get everything ready for the first big hunt.

- The Duke will be tomorrow at the castle, Grammont said to her daughter. I hardly will be home for a few days, do not alarm you.

- Is what I can accompany you, my daddy? asked Nicole.

- No ! of course ! It is no more than walk, these days, a small child; I have to prepare a good hunting ... without a hitch! Yourself, forget nothing.

- Oh ! me ! Everything is ready.

But Nicou with a heart beat with anxiety, suddenly remembered that the hardest remained: namely dominate shyness that would inevitably take before all these people!

4

The hunt was in full swing; forest echoed calls from the trunk and its horns.

Early in the morning, Nicole had accompanied his father to the castle and it was attended from the crew: the Duke de la Muette and guests in red dress and silver, the pack led by the busy valets and Grammont so young and chic in her beautiful costume drill.

Nicole had not seen such a sight since infancy. At the time of the great hunts, each year, in fact, she was at school. She was really happy this time to have been present on this occasion.

When the crew was gone, the girl went in haste to the pavilion. There was an hour's walk from the Muette castle Ragon and as no one could predict how long would the hunt, he should not put himself in that delay in receiving the squire and his guests.

At the lodge, everything was ready to welcome them: a large fire blazing in the huge fireplace and flowers were scattered everywhere, chrysanthemum purple the last golden leaves of autumn.

The pale November sun had surpassed heaven climax ... the day went ... Nicole and Delphie expected.

The hunt was certainly closer ... They had heard ringing "vision" for a long time ... then nothing now. But suddenly, before he perceived again the tubes, a large movement began around the pavilion. It seemed a troop trampling the hard ground ... They distinguished footsteps of horses, the sound of voices coming closer.

Curious, looked toward the kitchen window, the two women were trying to see something.

But it was behind them in the studio, the door opened. And Nicole saw him enter his father the Duke de la Muette.

Both seemed very busy ... And now behind them, instead of the expected guests, were four of the most powerful servants who entered the room. They carried on an improvised stretcher made of tree branches and straps, a large blond man, with closed eyes and features contracted by suffering.

An anguish shook the sensitive heart of Nicole. She turned pale and ran to his father:

- What is it ? She asked in a hushed voice.

- An accident.

- He is dead ?

- No, said Lucien Grammont. Calm down, my little Nicou. A cousin of M. de la Muette, Lord Blackenfield, made a riding accident ... It is perhaps not serious at all! ... Look, go find Delphie and tell her she prepares everything on a cut of his famous grog, it will be excellent for the injured.

Having found the way to his daughter away and giving it the same time a useful role, what was the best way to soothe his emotion Grammont came to take care of the wounded.

He had been lying on the couch; ensconced by the cushions, it seemed less suffer during transport on this rudimentary stretcher.

The Duc de la Muette had approached him and took his wrist.

- The pulse is good, he said.

The wounded man opened his eyes and walked a little vague about the people and things around him. As he closed them, the lord inquired:

- Well ! Harry, how are you feeling?

- Oh ! Well ... thank you ... I think ... well ... the young man replied with a strong English accent.

- Okay, this may be saying much, said the duke, smiling. You had a famous shock ...

- Yes ... I'm shocked ... significantly! I lost my own science ... I think?

- Your own science ... Oh! yes! ... lost consciousness, do you mean?

- Yes.

- Yes, but not for long ... You are really energetic and strong, my cousin ... an amazing guy!

- No, not impressed! I'm a strong boy, Harry protested very modest.

He wanted to move.

- Ouch! he moaned. I just believe I'm a little off ...

- You suffer a lot.

- Yes, leg ... There, it's broken ... and the next ..., ouch ! very sick too!

Grammont finished stalling with cushions the painful leg when a servant that the Duke de la Muette had sent to the castle immediately after the accident, returned to report his mission:

- I called the city, the surgeon, sir. He will come.

- Is it him you talked about?

- Yes, sir, to himself.

- And he'll come right away?

- He said he was taking his car and he would be here in fifteen minutes ... with the nurse.

- Perfect ! said the duke de la Muette, who was concerned about the fate of his friend.

He was away from the couch where Harry rested and he explained to the guard:

- My good Grammont, I fear that my cousin is not portable ... In this case, you should keep him here a few days and this will give you much trouble ... Yes, yes, do not protest ...! anyway, I did ask a nurse who will take charge of all the care of the injured.

At this time, the door opened and Nicole entered, a steaming bowl of grog in his hands. She stopped at the foot of the couch and silently looked at the young man lying, reluctant to disturb him.

But as if he had guessed a female presence at his side, Lord Blackenfield opened his eyes.

He saw through the thin vapor rising from the burning liquid, the fresh face, emotion rose, between brown curls; Then he saw the frail and graceful bust, molded in a sweater angora snow ... and he forgot to speak French!

- Oh ! lovely! if he cried. Very lovely, indeed!

Nicole understood some English. She blushed like a poppy ... But she could not tell if it was his hospitable gesture that the young lord was so friendly or simply was not his little person himself.

5

Harry woke at dawn.

The uncertain light of an icy November morning came in through the patio doors which had not pulled the shutters.

The injured had slept a deep sleep with morphine sting with which the nurse, the night before, had calmed her pain, very sharp after the first dressing.

So wake heavy head, both numb and feverish, and not knowing at all how it was in this big room with flowered chintz curtains, whose comfortable and rustic aspect awoke in him no memory.

Outside, the wind was blowing almost a gale with this particular sound it makes in the forests, through the tall trees, and recalling the song of organs.

"A strange house ... in a forest! Hello ... you're not dreaming, old comrade? "If he asked himself.

Then, after a long minute observation:

"No, I'm not dreaming ... I have not drank the cocktail ... And I think there's spell: I'm in the land of Merlin, delivered with enchanting ... In truth, there is nothing else to believe ... "

He tried to rise, but a sharp pain in the ribs made him fall back exhausted on the pillow.

"Ouch! quite like it! Prisoner in bed! ... Hex! bewitchment! Oh ! but I do not love this thing! "

And he sought to flee back to the curvature lying on her back seemed to increase.

But this second movement, memory suddenly returned to him.

"Ouch! I know: ... taken by the leg and ribs in capilotade! It's broken ... here ... it's gay! "

No, it was not gay at all, and Harry let break his bad temper by a snarl that clearly expressed his rage to feel immobilized in the woods, in a remote corner of Sologne.

"No move and think too much, it's worth the London fog ... Very bad, very bad! Dear old friend, you will attend the spleen and it is not a good companion. "

Now the young man clearly recalled the circumstances that kept him in this room.

The night before the doctor came ...

After palpated in every sense the painful side and the already swollen leg, the scientist was diagnosed:

- Three broken ribs and broken fibula ... maybe even crack the tibia ... Nothing serious ... Yes, yes! he added before the protest of the patient which designated his leg, wincing in pain ... nothing serious! Ultimately, the consolidation will no sagging and no shortening of the leg.

Harry remembered that this diagnosis was agreeable.

In short, it was the principal; he had no serious injury.

Unfortunately, the surgeon spoke mandatory rest.

- Three weeks of patience, a month maybe. In this condition, there appear more.

The beautiful and strong boy that was Harry would have found absolutely unbearable the idea of ​​staying lame or even being hampered in his movements for the rest of his life.

That morning, he repeated, then, as a word of good omen:

"No shortening. Good! All right ... But a month here, it's not gay, stillness, solitude!; very cooling, this thing! "

At this time, the door to his room opened softly.

Harry, without moving the torso, turned his head toward the newcomer and, determined not to allow his character to darken, he observed cheerfully:

- Oh ! Yes! ... It's fairyland continues ... And that's the ... what you call it? ... Oh! Yes! ... The fairy Carabosse ... All right!

He laughed aloud and spoke with his strong English accent:

- Hello !

Delphie coming in, bent over, a big bundle in her arms, was indeed some resemblance Carabosse, but it was reviving the fire and not throw a bad fate.

She put the wood in the fireplace high and approached the wounded.

- Good day, Mr. Duke ... Duke slept well?

Everything that had a title to Delphie was "the Duke".

Lord Blakenfield, not understanding that it was exactly him, nodded with a kindly smile at the fairy Carabosse:

- Very generous, the old fairy, he gave the title to me and took me for my cousin!

The fire blazed bright in the old hearth when Delphie went. And, successor almost immediately, the nurse, all in white, began after her with professional ease, to attend to the care of the wounded.

She was a woman slightly stronger, without beauty and without grace; his speech was brief, his smile rare.

Lord Harry, who, eyes followed her every gesture, could only repeat to himself:

"Three weeks like this, it will be gay! ... Oh! yes ... it will be gay! "

And he contained himself in a child's sulky silence.

Still, despite his did not stop to think:

"Was there anything else in that house, that austere and white Miss Thomas? that good old fairy Carabosse? ... Other people? "

He recalled his arrival, lying on the improvised stretcher ... Last night, the large studio was full of people ...

There was the Duke de la Muette, his cousin ... Very nice, Duke! he had organized everything: the doctor, the nurse, the care we would give this house ... Yes, but here, the Duke de la Muette had guests whom he also had, and he was away to join them as soon as he was reassured about the fate of Lord Blackenfield ... He had promised to come back every day to see it ... Unfortunately for Harry, the presence of his cousin cut her long days immobility that too few short moments.

There were around him, the day before, the other hunters ... guests of the Duke were the most for a few hours at the castle.

They were of no importance! ... Sabine was not there! While the entire crew without Sabine Crault, it was nothing interesting indeed!

! "Stupid idea ... Stupid idea that I had to come to this hunt hoping to meet with Sabine ... It's fate, I should not have come, but go to join it Paris. "

Harry was, basically, a little superstitious, and he was not far from thinking that the absence of Sabine had brought him bad luck.

Sabine Crault, niece of the Duke de la Muette, had flirted outrageously all summer with Lord Blakenfield. The young woman prided himself on being sporty and beautiful Scots had a partner who did him honor ... As long as he had acted in yachting, tennis and crawl, the idyll was very well ... but now that Sabine had become very Parisian and very sought after in social circles, it was probably the spirit of his distant cousin and a bit slow, obviously, she forsook him for his latest Paris friends.

" Sad ! Harry thought. Bad luck ! "

Still, Sabine had never been in this house; why will that she seemed so empty?

From time to time, on the top floor, we heard a light step ... so light ... that of someone who does not want to make noise.

And the young lord remembered:

"In this strange home, there's something else the old fairy Carabosse ... there is the pretty young fairy ... last night ... all the little fairy ... oh! so pretty ! "

As Miss Thomas brought him a potion to soothe the pain that woke up, he asked him point-blank:

- He's gone ... the little fairy so pretty?

- What? Who is it who's gone? asked the nurse, who thought he had misunderstood.

- The little fairy of hot toddy ...

Miss Thomas thought that his patient had slight delirium. She felt her pulse, shook his head ... and did not answer.

Harry stifled a poorly despite expletive. Then, mercilessly, he gave a great yawn and repeated:

- Oh ! yes! ... It was very gay!

A moment later, he asked again:

- There is no one here ?

- How? Miss Thomas said, a little worried, the injured have only a slight fever that warranted no delirium.

- I would like to see the guard ... Grammont said Harry.

- Where is he ?

- Here, I think ... It's home, the lonely house.

- Well. I will prevent it.

The nurse disappeared and returned a moment later announced:

- Grammont is on tour ... But his daughter is here ... Do you want to see?

- Oh ! yes! right now ! immediately nodded the young man, who was delighted.

So Nicole went.

"The little fairy! The real little fairy! "Murmured the young Englishman.

However, Nicole, smiling, advanced to the injured and asked timidly:

- You called me, Lord Blackenfield ... Do you want something?

- Oh ! yes! He replied sincerely. I wanted to see a nice face ...