She had written on her landing at La Rochelle, and they had been met on their way by a messenger from the countess, expressing her delight that her sister had at last carried out her promise to visit her, and saying that Francois was looking eagerly for the coming of his cousin.
The chateau was a semi-fortified building, capable of making a stout resistance against any sudden attack.

It stood on the slope of a hill, and Philip felt a little awed at its stately aspect as they approached it.

When they were still a mile away, a party of horsemen rode out from the gateway, and in a few minutes their leader reined up his horse in front of them and, springing from it, advanced towards Philip, who also alighted and helped his aunt to dismount.
"My dear aunt," the young fellow said, doffing his cap, "I am come in the name of my mother to greet you, and to tell you how joyful she is that you have, at last, come back to us.
"This is my Cousin Philip, of course; though you are not what I expected to see.

My mother told me that you were two years' my junior, and I had looked to find you still a boy; but, by my faith, you seem to be as old as I am.

Why, you are taller by two inches, and broader and stronger too, I should say.