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418 THE ADVENTURES OF PHILIP
parents and then at their old friend. " Mr. Firmin does not come,
because papa and mamma have forbidden him," says Charlotte.
" I suppose he only comes where he is welcome." And, having
made this audacious speech, I suppose the little maid tossed her
little head up ; and wondered, in the silence which ensued, whether
all the company could hear her heart thumping.
Madame, from her central place, where she is carving, sees,
from the looks of her guests, the indignant flushes on Charlotte's
face, the confusion on her father's, the wrath on Mrs. Baynes's,
that some dreadful words are passing ; and in vain endeavours to
turn the angry current of talk. " Un petit canard délicieux,
goutez-en, madame!" she cries. Honest Colonel Bunch sees the
little maid with eyes flashing with anger, and trembling in every
limb. The offered duck having failed to create a diversion, he, too,
tries a feeble commonplace. "A little difference, my dear," he
says, in an under voice. " There will be such in the best-regulated
families. Canard sauvage très bong, Madame, avec _________ " but he is
allowed to speak no more, for—
" What would you do, Colonel Bunch," little Charlotte breaks
out with her poor little ringing trembling voice—" that is, if you
were a young man, if another young man struck you and insulted
you ?" I say she utters this in such a clear voice, that Francoise,
the femme-de-chambre, that Auguste, the footman, that all the
guests hear, that all the knives and forks stop their clatter.
" Faith, my dear, I'd knock him down if I could," says Bunch ;
and he catches hold of the little maid's sleeve, and would stop her
speaking if he could.
" And that is what Philip did," cries Charlotte aloud ; " and
mamma has turned him out of the house—yes, out of the house,
for acting like a man of honour !"
" Go to your room this instant, Miss !" shrieks mamma. As
for old Baynes, his stained old uniform is not more dingy-red than
his wrinkled face and his throbbing temples. He blushes under
his wig, no doubt, could we see beneath that ancient artifice.
"What is it? Madame your mother dismisses you of my
table? I will come with you, my dear Miss Charlotte!" says
Madame, with much dignity. " Serve the sugared plate, Auguste!
My ladies, you will excuse me ! I go to attend the dear Miss, who
seems to me ill." And she rises up, and she follows poor little
blushing, burning, weeping Charlotte : and again, I have no doubt,
takes her in her arms and kisses, and cheers, and caresses her—at
the threshold of the door—there by the staircase, among the cold
dishes of the dinner, where Moira and Macgrigor had one moment
before been marauding.