Page:The Eyes of Innocence.djvu/40

36 a real saint! ... But, all the same. ... Forgive me!"

The old servant's confusion was touching. Gilberte gently raised her from the floor and said:

"There, we'll say no more about it. But why is Mme. de la Vaudraye interested in me and my doings?"

"Goodness knows! She's always poking her nose in everywhere and wants to manage everything at Domfront and every one to obey her. And you don't know how they talk about you here! There's no lack of gossip, I can tell you!"

"About me?"

"Yes. They want to know where you come from, who M. Armand was, all sorts of things! Then Mme. de la Vaudraye speechifies about you in her drawing-room. Just think, you're her tenant; and she's the only one who has spoken to you! ... And then I've guessed something else. ..."

"What's that, Adèle?"