It was some way further down the winding road, within
sight of the house of Madame Le Maitre.
Caius was taken to this new abode, and found that it contained two
rooms, furnished with the necessities and many of the comforts of life.
The stove was good; abundance of fuel was stacked near the house; simple
cooking utensils hung in the outer room; adjoining it, or rather, in a
bit of the same building set apart, was a small stable, in which a very
good horse was standing. The horse was for his use. If he could be his
own bed-maker, cook, and groom, it was evident that he would lack for
nothing. A man whom Madame Le Maitre sent showed Caius his quarters, and
delivered to him the key; he also said that Madame Le Maitre would be
ready in an hour to ride over the island with him and introduce him to
all the houses in which there was illness.
Caius was left for the hour to look over his establishment and make
friends with his horse. It was all very surprising.
CHAPTER IX.
THE SICK AND THE DEAD.
The bit of road that lay between Madame Le Maitre's house and the house
allotted to Caius led, winding down a hill, through a stunted fir-wood.
The small firs held out gnarled and knotty branches towards the road;
their needles were a dark rich green.
Down this road Caius saw the lady come riding. Her horse was a beautiful
beast, hardly more than a colt, of light make and chestnut colour.
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