Transcriber's Notes:
1. Page scan source:
http://books.google.com/books?oe=UTF-8&id=zxBLAAAAIAAJ
The Abbéis Terribly Perplexed.
The abbé's departure left a void in the household. He had grown to beso conspicuous and necessary a feature in it that even Gabrielleregretted his mercurial presence, while conscious of a feeling ofrelief in that he no more pursued her. It was but a temporary respite,she knew. He would return ere long, renew the siege, demand an answer.What that answer was to be, she did not feel certain. Her interest inherself had gone. She missed the readings, the soft declamation of themusical voice; for, left more alone than ever, her mind broodedwithout distraction on the past and the tangled possibilities of thefuture. The chevalier's attentions were rather irksome than otherwise,for his conversational powers were limited. His position was that ofwatchdog, and, as all the world knows, watch-dogs are expected towatch and not to talk. He was content to sit staring with vacant eyesat his sister-i