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I saw her eyes no more till Threlka came and lifted her head, offering her a cup of drink, and so standing patiently until again she had dismissal. "But still it is all a puzzle to me, Madam," I began. "I do not understand."
Threlka is expert in omelets, and our coffee is such as perhaps you may not find general in these provinces." Was there the slightest mocking sneer in her words? Did she despise me as a faint-heart? I could not tell, but did not like the thought. "Believe me, Madam," I answered hotly, "you have courage, at least. Let me match it. Nor do I deny that this asks courage on my part too.
There appeared at the crack of the door the wrinkled visage of the old serving-woman, Threlka. I knew that she would be there in precisely this way, because there was every reason in the world why it should not have been. She paused, scanning me closely, then quickly opened the door and allowed me to step inside, vanishing as was her wont.
Being on the lookout for these, I soon discovered them to be my late friends of the Hudson Bay Post. One old brown woman, unhappily astride a native pony, I took to be Threlka, my lady's servant, but she rode with her class, at the rear. I looked again, until I found the baroness, clad in buckskins and blue cloth, brave as any in finery of the frontier.
"No, I think the pink one," I heard her say, "and please the bath, Threlka, just a trifle more warm." She spoke in French, her ancient serving-woman, as I took it, not understanding the English language. They both spoke also in a tongue I did not know. I heard the rattling of toilet articles, certain sighs of content, faint splashings beyond. I could not escape from all this.
I led her to the edge of the little bed of husks and found her kerchief. Ah, she was of breeding and courage! Presently, her voice rose steady and clear as ever. "Threlka!" she called. "Please!" When Threlka came, she looked closely at her lady's face, and what she read seemed, after all, to content her. "Threlka," said my lady in French, "I want the little one."
So we sat, easier now, as I admit, and, with small concern for the affairs of the world outside at the time, discussed the very excellent omelet, which certainly did not allow the reputation of Threlka to suffer; the delicately grilled bones, the crisp toasted rye bread, the firm yellow butter, the pungent early cress, which made up a meal sufficiently dainty even for her who presided over it.
An instant later, summoned in what way I do not know, the old serving-woman again reappeared. "Wine, Threlka," said the baroness; "service for two you may use this little table. Monsieur," she added, turning to me, "I am most happy to make even some slight return for the very gracious entertainment offered me that morning by Mr. Calhoun at his residence. Such a droll man! Oh, la! la!"
In these singular surroundings I found myself not wholly tranquil.... At last toward morning, I must have slept. It was some time after daybreak when I felt a hand upon my shoulder as I lay still partly clad. Awakened suddenly, I arose and almost overthrew old Threlka, who stood regarding me with no expression whatever upon her brown and wrinkled countenance.
Have I punished you for that? No, I have only shown you the more regard." "My lord, you punish me most when you most show me your regard." "Well, God bless my soul, listen at that! Listen at that here, now, when I've Madam, you shock me, you grieve me. I could I have a glass of wine?" I heard her ring for Threlka, heard her fasten the door behind her as she left, heard him gulp over his glass.
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