But,
by dint of some small glasses out of a bottle of Antoine Meyer's, she
told him more about the De Crequys than she liked afterwards to remember.
For the exhilaration of the brandy lasted but a very short time, and she
came home, as I have said, depressed, with a presentiment of coming evil.
She would not answer Pierre, but cuffed him about in a manner to which
the spoilt boy was quite unaccustomed. His cousin's short, angry words,
and sudden withdrawal of confidence,--his mother's unwonted crossness and
fault-finding, all made Virginie's kind, gentle treatment, more than ever
charming to the lad. He half resolved to tell her how he had been acting
as a spy upon her actions, and at whose desire he had done it. But he
was afraid of Morin, and of the vengeance which he was sure would fall
upon him for any breach of confidence. Towards half-past eight that
evening--Pierre, watching, saw Virginie arrange several little things--she
was in the inner room, but he sat where he could see her through the
glazed partition. His mother sat--apparently sleeping--in the great easy-
chair; Virginie moved about softly, for fear of disturbing her.
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