"What! quite alone? Is there nobody at all with you?"
"No, madame."
"But that is very extraordinary, and not at all the thing for
a young person of your age. What makes you go about all by
yourself?"
"I--I have no one to go with me," faltered Madelon, getting
more and more hot and uncomfortable.
"But that is very strange, and, as one may say, very improper;
have you no friends?"
"Yes,--no," began Madelon; but at that moment, with a shriek,
the train entered a tunnel, and the sudden noise and darkness
put a stop to the conversation for a time. The Countess began
again presently, however, as they went speeding across the
next valley.
"Do you live at Chaudfontaine?" was her next inquiry.
"No," says poor Madelon, looking around despairingly, as for
some means of escape; but that was hopeless, and she could
only shrink further into her corner.
"And where are you going now, then?"
"I am going to Spa."
"To Spa? Ah, indeed--and what are you going to do there?
Perhaps," said the Countess, more graciously, and with another
glance at the shabby frock and poor little bundle, "perhaps
you are going into some situation there?"
"Situation?" repeated Madelon, bewildered.
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