Page:Live and Let Live.djvu/170

170 kiss her, and finding all did not do, he too burst into tears, and hid his face on her bosom. "Whatever becomes of me," thought Lucy, folding her arms round the little fellow, "I will do what I can for you!" and, after a little consideration, she resolved that she would, if possible, remain in the house till Mr. Hartell's arrival, and reserve her statement for his ear. In the mean time Adéle whispered to her mistress, and both retired for a few moments. In that interval Adéle strongly urged sending Lucy immediately off without other punishment than loss of character and loss of place. "If," she urged "she stays till Mr. Hartell arrives, she will frame her own story—she will put everything upon me—Mr. Hartell will believe her—men always believe a very pretty young girl against one who has the misfortune to be not young—madame will be left without any French servant, and that dear angel, master Eugene, would speak English first, just as the young ladies had."

Convinced by these precious arguments, Mrs. Hartell returned to the nursery, and announced to Lucy that she must leave the house within an hour. Lucy entreated that she might be permitted to stay till evening, and Ophelia seconded her entreaties, and then declared she "should not go till papa came." Her mother's reiterated decision only made her more vehement, till Adéle whimpered to her that if she cared for Lucy she had best let her go at once, for all the servants knew what had happened, and no one could say how soon a police-officer might be in the house. This roused the common childish terrors of an officer of justice, and she now urged Lucy to hasten her departure.