_You_ calls it madness: _I_ calls it temper.
Tem--per, and no--thing else." Aunt Theresa used to make us laugh by repeating Nurse Brown's sayings, and the little shake of herself with which she emphasized the last sentence.
If she had no sympathy for Madame de Vandaleur, she had a double share for the poor lady's husband: "a _good_ soul," as she used to call him.
It was in vain that Jeanette spoke of the sweet temper and unselfishness of her mistress "before these terrible days"; her conduct towards her husband then was "enough for" Nurse Brown, so she said.

No sooner had the poor gentleman gone off on some errand for her pleasure than she called for him to be with her, and was only to be pacified by a fable of Jeanette's devising, who always said that "the King" had summoned Monsieur de Vandaleur.

Jeanette was well aware that, the childless old Duke being dead, her master had succeeded to the title, and she often spoke of him as Monsieur le Duc to his wife, which seems to have pleased the poor lady.

When he was absent, Jeanette's ready excuse, "_Eh, Madame! Pour Monsieur le Duc--le Roi l'a fait appeller_," was enough, and she waited patiently for his return.
Ever-changing as her whims and fancies were, the poor gentleman sacrificed everything to gratify them.

His watch, his rings, his buckles, the lace from his shirt, and all the few trifles secured in their hasty flight, were sold one by one.