The
courtesy and consideration were perfect; as soon as these people saw
that I was really abashed and distressed, they turned their attention
from me. My husband was in the meantime called to be presented to
the Duke of Enghien, and I remained for a little while unmolested, so
that I could recover myself a little. Presently a soft voice close
to me said 'Madame,' and I looked up into the beautiful countenance
of Anne Genevieve de Bourbon, her blue eyes shining on me with the
sweetest expression. 'Madame,' she said, 'permit me to tell you how
glad I am for you.'
I thanked her most heartily. I felt this was the real tender
sympathy of a being of my own age and like myself, and there were
something so pathetic in her expression that I felt sorry for her.
'You are good! You will keep good,' she said.
'I hope so, Mademoiselle,' I said.
'Ah! yes, you will. They will not make you lose your soul against
your will!' and she clenched her delicate white hand.
'Nobody can do that, Mademoiselle.'
'What! Not when they drag you to balls and fete away from the
cloister, where alone you can be safe?'
'I hope not there alone,' I said.
'For me it is the only place,' she repeated. 'What is the use of
wearing haircloth when the fire of the Bourbons is in one's blood,
and one has a face that all the world runs after?'
'Mais, Mademoiselle,' I said; 'temptation is only to prove our
strength.
Pages:
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
39
40
41
42
43
44
45
46
47
48
49
50
51
52
53