things as fear and jealousy; and are you going to your governess, Maud?'




CHAPTER XIV

_ANGRY WORDS_


I was going to my governess, as Lady Knollys said; and so I went. The
undefinable sense of danger that smote me whenever I beheld that woman had
deepened since last night's occurrence, and was taken out of the region
of instinct or prepossession by the strange though slight indications of
recognition and abhorrence which I had witnessed in Lady Knollys on that
occasion.

The tone in which Cousin Monica had asked, 'are you going to your
governess?' and the curious, grave, and anxious look that accompanied the
question, disturbed me; and there was something odd and cold in the tone as
if a remembrance had suddenly chilled her. The accent remained in my ear,
and the sharp brooding look was fixed before me as I glided up the broad
dark stairs to Madame de la Rougierre's chamber.

She had not come down to the school-room, as the scene of my studies was
called. She had decided on having a relapse, and accordingly had not made
her appearance down-stairs that morning. The gallery leading to her room
was dark and lonely, and I grew more nervous as I approached; I paused at
the door, making up my mind to knock.