Then, in the lower department, much altercation had taken place. Monsieur Robert thought proper to call Philippe Rigaud a young puppy; and Philippe, instead of acknowledging his puppyism, as in duty bound, to his superior, vehemently apostrophised him as an old fool. The female domestics were all scandalised beyond measure at the blindness and stupidity of their sweethearts in particular, and the men-servants generally, in admiring an awkward country-girl, as some called our heroine; but all agreed in pronouncing her to be "no great things."
At length Jaqueline and Father Dunstan took their departure through a private road from the back of the chateau, and rode in silence, side by side, for nearly a league, when Jaqueline expressed her sorrow for the disasters and quarrels that have just been related.
"It was no fault of thine, my child," observed the priest; "it is ever thus when women are so exceedingly beautiful. Men don't know what to do with themselves. Heigho!"
"La, Father Dunstan!" exclaimed Jaqueline, "what can that have to do with the present case? I'm no beauty, that's certain, or some of our young fellows would have found it out long ago. You used to say yourself that I was more fit for a boy; and latterly I've been thinking the same, and had a great mind, since nobody would come a-courting to me, to dress myself up like a man, and try my luck that way."
"Most exceedingly dull and stupid must the young men about St Denis be in the present generation!" said Father Dunstan. "But you'll find it very different at Moulins. Heigho!" and they rode on in silence for a considerable distance, and then Jaqueline exclaimed, "Why, this is the same way that I was brought this morning! Yes. And there I declare is part of the old castle, peeping above the trees. We shan't get to the Cock and Bottle to-night at this rate! But, bless us, _mon bon père_, what's the matter with you? Aren't you well?"
"Not exactly, my dear," replied the priest; "I feel a very peculiar sensation in my pericardium, and a dizziness about the head."
"Can I do anything for you?" inquired Jaqueline.
"I think," said Father Dunstan, "nay, I am sure that it would do me good to hear you talk a little, my dear Mademoiselle."