Madame,' but do for the future 'wat she tell a me.'

She smiled her wide wet grin, smoothed my hand, and patted my cheek, and
would in the excess of her conciliatory paroxysm have kissed me; but I
withdrew, and she commented only with a little laugh, and a 'Foolish little
thing! but you will be quite amiable just now.'

'Why, Madame,' I asked, suddenly raising my head and looking her straight
in the face, 'do you wish me to walk to Church Scarsdale so particularly
to-day?'

She answered my steady look with a contracted gaze and an unpleasant frown.

'Wy do I?--I do not understand a you; there is _no_ particular day--wat
folly! Wy I like Church Scarsdale? Well, it is such pretty place. There is
all! Wat leetle fool! I suppose you think I want to keel a you and bury you
in the churchyard?'

And she laughed, and it would not have been a bad laugh for a ghoul.

'Come, my dearest Maud, you are not a such fool to say, if _you_ tell me me
go thees a way, I weel go that; and if you say, go that a way, I weel go
thees--you are rasonable leetle girl--come along--_alons donc_--we shall av
soche agreeable walk--weel a you?'

But I was immovable. It was neither obstinacy nor caprice, but a profound
fear that governed me. I was then afraid--yes, _afraid_. Afraid of _what_?
Well, of going with Madame de la Rougierre to Church Scarsdale that day.
That was all. And I believe that instinct was true.