to do. For although he called himself physician to Count de Chaumont, he
had no real occupation in the house, and dabbled with poetry, dozing
among books. De Chaumont was one of those large men who gather in the
weak. His older servants had come to America with his father, and were
as attached as kindred. A natural parasite like Doctor Chantry took to
De Chaumont as means of support; and it was pleasing to both of them.

My master asked me when I wanted to begin my studies, and I said, "Now."
We sat down at the table, and I learned the English alphabet, some
phrases of English talk, some spelling, and traced my first characters
in a copy-book. With consuming desire to know, I did not want to leave
off at dusk. In that high room day lingered. The doctor was fretful for
his supper before we rose from our task.

Servants were hurrying up and down stairs. The whole house had an air of
festivity. Doctor Chantry asked me to wait in a lower corridor while he
made some change in his dress.

I sat down on a broad window sill, and when I had waited a few minutes,
Mademoiselle de Chaumont darted around a corner, bare armed and bare
necked. She collapsed to the floor at sight of me, and then began to
dance away in the opposite direction with stiff leaps, as a lamb does in
spring-time.

I saw she was in pain or trouble, needing a servant, and made haste to
reach her; when she hid her face on both arms against the wall.

"Go off!" she hissed. "--S-s-s! Go off! I haven't anything on!--Don't go
off! Open my door for me quick!--before anybody else comes into the
hall!"