terrace by her husband’s side to greet the Countess, who stood at the hall-door to receive her. I thought, even then, she bowed very haughtily to the people assembled to receive her, and received her new mother’s kiss with cold constraint. Indeed the Countess herself was rather more ceremonious, I thought, than the occasion required. Lady Alix stood by her aunt, and threw her arms round her new cousin’s neck with sweet innocent joy and greeting; then she turned to Count Henry and kissed him too, as she always did. I thought then, and I am sure of it now, that there was a peculiar look in Lady Gabrielle’s face when she first saw her cousin Alix. That look haunted me long afterwards. The dominion of the two ladies did not last long together, however; before very long my lady Countess died. God only knows why He did not take the younger lady! Even before her mother-in-law died, she had shown much of her real character—enough to make us fear for the future, at least. Certainly nothing more haughty, more wildly proud and overbearing than the young Countess ever trod the earth, and in jealousy she surpassed anything I ever heard of. My lord was completely under her dominion. He both loved and admired her, though her passions terrified him. His brave but gentle nature shrank back appalled at the storms which opposition to her will was sure to arouse. One of her first caprices had been to request my services instead of those of her own maid. It was the act of a spoilt child, and the first sacrifice my gentle lady had to make for peace sake. I say a sacrifice, because she told me it was one. She came to me herself, put her pretty hand on my shoulder, and said:
“‘For my sake, Justine, do as you are asked. I shall never have anyone about me that I shall like half as well, but you know I would do a great deal to content my cousin.”
“There were tears in her eyes as she spoke, so I could only sob out ‘Yes,’ and do as she wished, for love of her. After the old Countess’s death troubles began to gather round us. The jealousy of her cousin, which I had seen coming so long in Lady Gabrielle, became at last a perfect frenzy. All her haughtiness, all her pride, were absorbed in one senseless sentiment of jealousy. If my young lady left the house for a walk in the park the Countess would creep stealthily after her, and follow her behind the trees and bushes. At every sound in the corridor of an evening she would creep out, and stand watching the door of her cousin’s room. My lord began to grow restless and miserable. He loved his cousin so dearly, that to feel his intercourse with her restricted was a perfect torture to him. Added to this, the little children—there were two now, a boy and girl—receiving no care or attention from their mother, gave all their baby love and caresses to their cousin, or petite mère Alix as they called her. At last, however, came a little respite. The Baron de Lisle came back, and when Lady Gabrielle saw how well he and the young lady agreed, she began to imagine she might have been mistaken. One day, to my dismay, when all seemed going on for the best, the baron left in a hurry; he had evidently had a misunderstanding with Lady Alix. I cannot help thinking that he had told her what he and everyone must have noticed in the Countess’s conduct towards her, and that she, sweet generous creature, had indignantly denied it and defended her cousin. Let that be as it may, he went, and from that moment things grew worse; Lady Alix was pale and worn, my lord anxious and distressed, and my mistress frantic with her jealousy. My lord was never even able to speak to his cousin without raising a storm, but I think he often used to meet her in her walks and pour out all his sorrows to her. I was sitting one day in this very room, working at my lady’s embroidery, and she herself was standing at that window, when suddenly I heard her utter a faint cry, and looking across the water I saw my lord and Lady Alix pacing up and down under the trees. I felt at once that they must be much occupied with their conversation, or they could never have forgotten the watch my lady always kept over them. There was such a fierce expression in her face that, with a feeling of terror, I waited for what would follow. We could see that Lady Alix was crying bitterly. My lord held a letter in his hand, which he gave her at last, and then left her alone while she read it. This she did slowly, turning it over and over, and then she threw herself on the bench and buried her face in her hands. My lord returned in a few minutes: when she saw him she sprang up from her seat, and threw herself into his arms. He held her tenderly, with one arm round her waist, and, stooping down, kissed her sweet, upturned face again and again.
“My lady put her hand to her heart, as if she had been stabbed, and then turned to leave the room. She looked so strange, that I followed her across the hall and up-stairs. She went very slowly, almost like one in a dream, never moving her hand from her heart. In the passage opposite the top of the stairs, my little Lord was playing with his sister. He was nearly four then, and as beautiful as an angel. When they saw their mother coming, they ran towards her. She took one hand of each, and passed on. At the large open window near the door of your last night’s chamber she stopped, and stooping, raised the little girl in her arms, and kissed her in such a strange, passionate way, that the child gave a cry of fear. Then she turned to her son. He wore round his neck a golden medallion, with his father’s hair and portrait. She snapped the slender chain with her angry fingers, and then taking him up in her arms, pressed his bright curly head against her breast. On a sudden she turned to the attendant of her children and to me, as if to bid us be gone; but at that instant there was a sound of voices below, and then, with a wild, savage cry, she leapt on the broad sill of the window, and flung herself with the child into the deep waters below. There was a splash and a scream! We rushed to the window, and saw her struggling in the water with the boy in her arms. At this instant my Lord and Lady Alix appeared in the passage. One glance sufficed; and then their wild cries of agony mingled with those rising from the moat. Every means of saving them was tried, in vain: many hours