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information from him about the Dauphin； and to force him to give
it theythey〃
〃Yes； I know；〃 said Marguerite。
〃Can you wonder； then； that Armand is unhappy。 Oh！ last night；
after he went from me； I cried for hours； just because he had
looked so sad。 He no longer talks of happy England； of the
cottage we were to have； and of the Kentish orchards in May。 He
has not ceased to love me； for at times his love seems so great
that I tremble with a delicious sense of fear。 But oh！ his love
for me no longer makes him happy。〃
Her head had gradually sunk lower and lower on her breast； her
voice died down in a murmur broken by heartrending sighs。 Every
generous impulse in Marguerite's noble nature prompted her to take
that sorrowing child in her arms； to comfort her if she could； to
reassure her if she had the power。 But a strange icy feeling had
gradually invaded her heart； even whilst she listened to the simple
unsophisticated talk of Jeanne Lange。 Her hands felt numb and
clammy； and instinctively she withdrew away from the near vicinity
of the girl。 She felt as if the room； the furniture in it； even the
window before her were dancing a wild and curious dance； and that
from everywhere around strange whistling sounds reached her ears；
which caused her head to whirl and her brain to reel。
Jeanne had buried her head in her hands。 She was cryingsoftly；
almost humbly at first； as if half ashamed of her grief； then；
suddenly it seemed； as if she could not contain herself any
longer； a heavy sob escaped her throat and shook her whole
delicate frame with its violence。 Sorrow no longer would be
gainsaid； it insisted on physical expressionthat awful tearing
of the heart…strings which leaves the body numb and panting with
pain。
In a moment Marguerite had forgotten； the dark and shapeless
phantom that had knocked at the gate of her soul was relegated
back into chaos。 It ceased to be； it was made to shrivel and to
burn in the great seething cauldron of womanly sympathy。 What
part this child had played in the vast cataclysm of misery which
had dragged a noble…hearted enthusiast into the dark torture…chamber；
whence the only outlet led to the guillotine； sheMarguerite Blakeney
did not know； what part Armand； her brother； had played in it； that
she would not dare to guess； all that she knew was that here was a
loving heart that was filled with paina young； inexperienced soul
that was having its first tussle with the grim realities of life
and every motherly instinct in Marguerite was aroused。
She rose and gently drew the young girl up from her knees； and then
closer to her； she pillowed the grief…stricken head against her
shoulder； and murmured gentle； comforting words into the tiny ear。
〃I have news for Armand；〃 she whispered； 〃that will comfort him； a
messagea letter from his friend。 You will see； dear； that when
Armand reads it he will become a changed man； you see； Armand
acted a little foolishly a few days ago。 His chief had given him
orders which he disregardedhe was so anxious about youhe
should have obeyed； and now； mayhap； he feels that his disobedience
may have been thethe innocent cause of much misery to others； that
is； no doubt； the reason why he is so sad。 The letter from his friend
will cheer him； you will see。〃
〃Do you really think so； madame？〃 murmured Jeanne； in whose
tear…stained eyes the indomitable hopefulness of youth was already
striving to shine。
〃I am sure of it；〃 assented Marguerite。
And for the moment she was absolutely sincere。 The phantom had
entirely vanished。 She would even； had he dared to re…appear；
have mocked and derided him for his futile attempt at turning the
sorrow in her heart to a veritable hell of bitterness。
CHAPTER XXXIII
LITTLE MOTHER
The two women； both so young still； but each of them with a mark
of sorrow already indelibly graven in her heart； were clinging to
one another； bound together by the strong bond of sympathy。 And
but for the sadness of it all it were difficult to conjure up a
more beautiful picture than that which they presented as they
stood side by side； Marguerite； tall and stately as an exquisite
lily； with the crown of her ardent hair and the glory of her deep
blue eyes； and Jeanne Lange； dainty and delicate； with the brown
curls and the child…like droop of the soft； moist lips。
Thus Armand saw them when； a moment or two later； entered
unannounced。 He had pushed open the door and looked on the two
women silently for a second or two； on the girl whom he loved so
dearly； for whose sake he had committed the great； the unpardonable
sin which would send him forever henceforth； Cain…like； a wanderer
on the face of the earth； and the other； his sister； her whom a
Judas act would condemn to lonely sorrow and widowhood。
He could have cried out in an agony of remorse； and it was the
groan of acute soul anguish which escaped his lips that drew
Marguerite's attention to his presence。
Even though many things that Jeanne Lange had said had prepared
her for a change in her brother； she was immeasurably shocked by
his appearance。 He had always been slim and rather below the
average in height； but now his usually upright and trim figure
seemed to have shrunken within itself； his clothes hung baggy on
his shoulders； his hands appeared waxen and emaciated； but the
greatest change was in his face； in the wide circles round the
eyes； that spoke of wakeful nights； in the hollow cheeks； and the
mouth that had wholly forgotten how to smile。
Percy after a week's misery immured in a dark and miserable
prison； deprived of food and rest； did not look such a physical
wreck as did Armand St。 Just； who was free。
Marguerite's heart reproached her for what she felt had been
neglect； callousness on her part。 Mutely； within herself； she
craved his forgiveness for the appearance of that phantom which
should never have come forth from out that chaotic hell which had
engendered it。
〃Armand！〃 she cried。
And the loving arms that had guided his baby footsteps long ago；
the tender hands that had wiped his boyish tears； were stretched
out with unalterable love toward him。
〃I have a message for you； dear；〃 she said gently〃a letter from
him。 Mademoiselle Jeanne allowed me to wait here for you until
you came。〃
Silently； like a little shy mouse； Jeanne had slipped out of the
room。 Her pure love for Armand had ennobled every one of her
thoughts； and her innate kindliness and refinement had already
suggested that brother and sister would wish to be alone。 At the
door she had turned and met Armand's look。 That look had
satisfied her； she felt that in it she had read the expression of
his love； and to it she had responded with a glance that spoke of
hope for a future meeting。
As soon as the door had closed on Jeanne Lange； Armand； with an
impulse that refused to be checked； threw himself into his
sister's arms。 The present； with all its sorrows； its remorse and
its shame； had sunk away； only the past remainedthe unforgettable
past； when Marguerite was 〃little mother〃the soother； the comforter；
the healer； the ever…willing receptacle wherein he had been wo