Bonnie Prince Charlie : a Tale of Fontenoy and Culloden eBook

“Your hands are indeed burning,” the sister said, convinced, as soon as she touched them, that the countess was really indisposed.  “Yes; and your pulse is beating quicker than I can count.  Yes, you have a touch of fever.  I will mix you a draught and bring it up to you at once.  Hark! that is the first peal of thunder; we are going to have a storm.  It will clear the air, and do you even more good than my medicine.  I will leave you here for tonight; if you are not better tomorrow we will move you into the infirmary.”

The next morning Sister Felicia found her patient much better, though she still seemed languid and weak, and was ordered to remain quietly in her apartment for a day or so, which was just what she desired, for she was so filled with her new born happiness that she feared that if she went about her daily tasks as usual she should not be able to conceal from the sharp eyes of the sisters the joyousness which was brimming over in her, while had she laughed she would have astonished the inmates of the gloomy convent.

CHAPTER VII:  Mother!

When Jeanne, after accomplishing her errands the next time she went out, entered Madam Vipon’s, she found Ronald and Malcolm awaiting her.

“You have told my mother?” the former asked eagerly as she entered.

“Yes, I have told her, and if I had been an angel from heaven, with a special message to her, the poor lady could not have looked more happy.”

“And you have been like an angel to us!” Ronald exclaimed, taking her hand.  “How can I thank you for your goodness?”

“For shame, sir!” Jeanne said, smiling and colouring as Ronald, in his delight, threw his arms round her and kissed her.  “Remember I am a lay sister.”

“I could not have helped it,” Ronald said, “if you had been the lady superior.  And now,” he went on eagerly, “is all arranged?  See, I have brought a ladder of silk rope, light and thin, but quite strong enough to bear her.”

“You take all for granted then, sir.  You know I said I would take your message, but that I would not engage to meddle further in it.”

“I know you said so; but I was sure that having gone so far you would do the rest.  You will, won’t you, Jeanne?”

“I suppose I must,” Jeanne said; “for what with the countess on one side and you on the other, I should get no peace if I said no.  Well, then, it is all arranged.  At eleven o’clock tonight you are to be on the terrace, and you can expect her there.  If she does not come you will know that something has occurred to prevent her, and she will come the following night at the same hour.”

Jeanne took the silken cords and wound them round her, under her lay sister’s robe, and then, with a kindly nod at Ronald, and an injunction to be as noiseless as a mouse in climbing up the terrace, and above all not to raise his voice in speaking to his mother, she tripped away across the street to the convent.