Eustacie had been partly dressed, and was lying as near as she could to the narrow window. The Queen would not let her move, but took her damp languid hand, and detailed her uncle’s proposal. It was plain that it was not utterly distasteful. ‘Soeur Monique,’ she said, ‘Soeur Monique would sing hymns to me, and then I should not see the imps at night.’
‘Poor child! And you would like to go? You could bear the journey?’
‘It would be in the air! And then I should not smell blood--blood!’ And her cheeks became whiter again, if possible.
‘Then you would not rather be at the Carmelites, or Maubuisson, near me?’
‘Ah! Madame, there would not be Soeur Monique. If the journey would only make me die, as soon as I came, with Soeur Monique to hush me, and keep off dreadful images!’
‘Dear child, you should put away the thought of dying. Maybe you are to live, that your prayers may win salvation for the soul of him you love.’
‘Oh, then! I should like to go into a convent so strict--so strict, cried Eustacie, with renewed vigour. ‘Bellaise is nothing like strict enough. Does your Majesty indeed think that my prayers will aid him?’
‘Alas! what hope could we have but in praying?’ said Elisabeth, with tears in her eyes. ‘Little one, we will be joined at least in our prayers and intercessions: thou wilt not forget in thine one who yet lives, unhappier than all!’
‘And, oh, my good, my holy Queen, will you indeed pray for him--my husband? He was so good, his faith can surely not long be reckoned against him. He did not believe in Purgatory! Perhaps----’ Then frowning with a difficulty far beyond a fever-clouded brain, she concluded--‘At least, orisons may aid him! It is doing something for him! Oh, where are my beads?--I can begin at once.’
The Queen put her arm round her, and together they said the _De profundis_,--the Queen understood every word far more for the living than the dead. Again Elisabeth had given new life to Eustacie. The intercession for her husband was something to live for, and the severest convent was coveted, until she was assured that she would not be allowed to enter on any rule till she had time to recover her health, and show the constancy of her purpose by a residence at Bellaise.