I was not encouraged by my lord's speeches.

He had heard the message, and kept declaring that he would rather be shot than have to tell her that there was no news of her son; and yet he said, every now and then, when I was at the lowest pitch of uneasiness, that he never expected to hear again: that some day soon we should see him walking in and introducing Mademoiselle de Crequy to us.
"However at last I was ready, and go I must.
"Her eyes were fixed on the door by which I entered.

I went up to the bedside.

She was not rouged,--she had left it off now for several days,--she no longer attempted to keep up the vain show of not feeling, and loving, and fearing.
"For a moment or two she did not speak, and I was glad of the respite.
"'Clement ?' she said at length, covering her mouth with a handkerchief the minute she had spoken, that I might not see it quiver.
"'There has been no news since the first letter, saying how well the voyage was performed, and how safely he had landed--near Dieppe, you know,' I replied as cheerfully as possible.

'My lord does not expect that we shall have another letter; he thinks that we shall see him soon.' "There was no answer.