was of some light muslin fabric, cut out square in the front, in the Mary Stuart style, which was the latest fashion, and fitting perfectly her slight, graceful figure. In the left corner she had a bouquet of fresh wild flowers, and on her bare neck a little gold cross fastened to a black velvet ribbon.
Both girls had taken particular pains with their toilet that day. The old baroness had gone in her carriage to a place some distance away at nine o’clock in the morning, and was only to come back late in the evening. So Jenny, being free from all fear of the old lady’s criticism, dressed according to her own taste and fancy, and on beholding herself in her looking-glass was particularly satisfied with the result. Could she have seen herself as she was going just now to the avenue, she would have been more satisfied still, for the lovely blush that mantled her cheeks, and which had probably been heightened by the long walk from the castle to the pond in the summer warmth, as well as by her little argument with the young baroness, presented a lovelier sight than the rosy bloom of the most beautiful apple or peach.
She went a little way into the avenue, and sat down on a landmark stone under one of the trees on the left side. Suddenly she heard, from the direction of the park, the quick, violent gallop of a horse. It drew nearer and nearer with unusual quickness. Jenny jumped to her feet and looked up the avenue. It surely could be no one but the baron himself. He came at a tremendous pace. She recognized Raoul; he was covered with foam, and was snorting violently. Baron Mundy was bare-headed and as pale as death. Jenny saw at once that he had lost all control over the animal.
At that moment, not more than twenty or thirty steps
