"Oh, do not be alarmed! I have been so for some days." Artless as she was, the young girl knew this was an opportunity to leave; besides, Madame de Villefort came to her assistance.
"Retire, Valentine," said she; "you are really suffering, and these ladies will excuse you; drink a glass of pure water, it will restore you."
Valentine kissed Eugénie, bowed to Madame Danglars, who had already risen to take her leave, and went out.
"That poor child," said Madame de Villefort, when Valentine was gone, "she makes me very uneasy, and I should not be astonished if she had some serious illness."
Meanwhile, Valentine, in a sort of excitement which she could not quite understand, had crossed Edward's room without paying any attention to some trick of the child, and through her own had reached the little staircase.
She was at the bottom excepting three steps; she already heard Morrel's voice, when suddenly a cloud passed over her eyes, her stiffened foot missed the step, her hands had no power to hold the baluster, and, falling against the wall, she rolled down these three steps rather than walked. Morrel bounded to the door, opened it, and found Valentine extended on the floor. Rapid as lightning, he raised her in his arms and placed her in a chair. Valentine opened her eyes.
"Oh, what a clumsy thing I am!" said she, with feverish volubility; "I no longer know my way. I forgot there were three more steps before the landing."
"You have hurt yourself, perhaps," said Morrel. "What can I do for you, Valentine?"
Valentine looked around her; she saw the deepest terror depicted in Noirtier's eyes.
"Comfort yourself, dear grandpapa," said she, endeavoring to smile; "it is nothing—it is nothing; I was giddy, that is all."
"Another giddiness!" said Morrel, clasping his hands. "Oh, attend to it, Valentine, I entreat you."
"But no," said Valentine,—"no, I tell you it is all past, and it was nothing. Now, let me tell you some news; Eugénie is to be married in a week, and in three days there is to be a grand feast, a sort of betrothing festival. We are all invited, my father, Madame de Villefort, and I—at least, I understood it so."
"When will it, then, be our turn to think of these things! Oh, Valentine, you, who have so much influence over your grandpapa, try to make him answer—Soon."
"And do you," said Valentine, "depend on me to stimulate the tardiness and arouse the memory of grandpapa?"
