Her husband's mother had been little more to her than a superior housekeeper, who had been faithfully attached to her and her children.

The homely, gentle, domestic foreigner, from a humble Swiss home, had looked up to her young aristocratic daughter-in-law as a being from a higher sphere.

But now the downcast, sorrowful face of the elder woman touched Felicita's sympathy.
"Mother!" she said, as soon as the children had run away to get ready for their drive.

She had never before called Madame "mother," and a startled look, almost of delight, crossed Madame's sad face.
"My daughter!" she cried, running to Felicita's side, and throwing her arms timidly about her, "he is sure to come back soon--to-day, I think.
Oh, yes, he will be here when we return! You do well to stay to meet him; and I should be glad to be here, but for the children.

Yes, the little ones must be out of the way.