We much dreaded the effect of the
Dutch climate on his health. And while tumultuous assemblies were
constantly taking place in Parliament, and no one could guess what
was coming next, we did not like parting with our protector; but he
said that he was an alien, and could do nothing for us. The army was
on its way home, and with it our brother de Solivet, and M.
d'Aubepine; and his clear duty was to be ready to engage in the cause
of his own King. We were in no danger at Paris, our sex was
sufficient protection, and if we were really alarmed, there could be
no reason against our fleeing to Nid de Merle. Nay, perhaps, if the
Court were made to take home the lesson, we might be allowed to
reside there, and be unmolested in making improvements. He had
another motive, which he only whispered to me.
'I cannot, and will not, give up my friend Darpent; and it is not
fitting to live in continual resistance to my mother. It does much
harm to Annora, who is by no means inclined to submit, and if I am
gone there can be no further question of intercourse.'
I thought this was hard upon us all. Had we not met M. Darpent at
the Hotel Rambouillet, and was he not a fit companion for us?
'Most assuredly,' said Eustace; 'but certain sentiments may arise
from companionship which in her case were better avoided.'
As you may imagine, my grandchildren, I cried out in horror at the
idea that if M. Darpent were capable of such presumption, my sister,
a descendant of the Ribaumonts, could stoop for a moment to favour a
mere bourgeois; but Eustace, Englishman as he was, laughed at my
indignation, and said Annora was more of the Ribmont than the de
Ribaumont, and that he would not be accessory either to the breaking
of hearts or to letting her become rebellious, and so that he should
put temptation out of her way.
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