de
Courtornieu's voice, she would certainly have learned the secret of her
former friend's anger and hatred.
But fate willed it otherwise. At least three hundred yards of rough
ground separated the place where Mlle. Blanche had stationed herself,
from the Lacheneur cottage.
It required a moment to cross this space; and that was time enough to
change all the girl's intentions.
She had not traversed a quarter of the distance before she bitterly
regretted having shown herself at all. But to retrace her steps now was
impossible, for Marie-Anne, who was still standing upon the threshold,
had seen her approaching.
There remained barely time to regain her self-control, and to compose
her features. She profited by it.
She had her sweetest smile upon her lips as she greeted Marie-Anne.
Still she was embarrassed; she did not know what excuse to give for her
visit, and to gain time she pretended to be quite out of breath.
"Ah! it is not very easy to reach you, dear Marie-Anne," she said, at
last; "you live _upon_ the summit of a veritable mountain.
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