inspecting the place as its master.

"The baroness! the baroness!" cried Jacintha, with horror. They looked
round, and the baroness was at their very backs.

"What is it?" cried she, gayly.

"Nothing, mamma."

"Let me see this nothing."

They glanced at one another, and, idle as the attempt was, the habit
of sparing her prevailed, and they flung themselves between her and the
blow.

"Josephine is not well," said Rose. "She wants to go in." Both girls
faced the baroness.

"Jacintha," said the baroness, "fetch Dr. Aubertin. There, I have sent
her away. So now tell me, why do you drive me back so? Something has
happened," and she looked keenly from one to the other.

"O mamma! do not go that way: there are strangers in the Pleasaunce."

"Let me see. So there are. Call Jacintha back that I may order these
people out of my premises." Josephine implored her to be calm.

"Be calm when impertinent intruders come into my garden?"

"Mother, they are not intruders."