 beyond
her cheese. Old Gardon would be an admirable adviser, and if he were
taken into the _menage_ she would add to the endowment another arable
field, and grass for two more cows. If she liked the young woman on
inspection, the marriage should take place in her own august presence.

What! had Maitre Gardon refused? Forbidden that the subject should be
mentioned to his daughter? Impossible! Either Mace had managed matters
foolishly, or the old man had some doubt of him which she could remove,
or else it was foolish reluctance to part with his daughter-in-law.
Or the gossips were right after all, and he knew her to be too
light-minded, if not worse, to be the wife of any pious young minister.
Or there was some mystery. Any way, Madame la Duchesse would see him,
and bring him to his senses, make him give the girl a good husband
if she were worthy, or devote her to condign punishment if she were
unworthy.




CHAPTER XXXIV. MADAME LA DUCHESSE



He found an ancient dame in dim brocade.---TENNYSON


Madame la Duchesse de Quinet had been a great heiress and a personal
friend and favourite of Queen Jeanne d'Albret. She had been left a widow
after five years' marriage, and for forty subsequent years had reigned
despotically in her own name and that of _mon fils_. Busied with the
support of the Huguenot cause, sometimes by arms, but more usually by
politics, and constantly occupied by the hereditary government of one
of the lesser counties of France, the Duke was all the better son for
relinquishing to her the home administration, as well as the education
of his two motherless boys; and their confidence and affection were
perfect, though he was almost as seldom at home as she was abroad. At
times, indeed, she had visited Queen Jeanne at Nerac; but since the good
Queen's death, she only left the great chateau of Quinet to make a royal
progress of inspection through the family towns, castles, and estates,
sometimes to winter in her beautiful hereditary _hotel_ at Montauban,
and as at present to attend any great assembly 