I believe she was rather shocked, for
she was a Huguenot by birth, and a Jansenist by conviction, and thus
she did not approve of any strong signs of affection and emotion; but
nevertheless she was touched and very kind and good, and she returned
my embrace by giving me her sweet and solemn blessing.
And as he put me into the carriage, Clement, that foolish Clement,
must needs thank me, with tears in his eyes, for my goodness to her.
'What do you mean, sir,' said I, 'by thanking me for what I delight
in and value as a daughter?'
Whereupon I, equally foolish, knew what I had said, and felt my face
and neck grow crimson all over, and what must he do, but kiss my hand
in a rapture.
And all the way home I could hear old Lady Ommaney murmuring to
herself, quite unconscious that she was speaking aloud, 'My stars! I
hope I have not done wrong! What will my Lady Walwyn say? Not that
he would be altogether a bad match for her after our notions. Her
father was only a baron, and theirs is a good old family of the
citizen sort, but then my Lady Walwyn is a Frenchwoman, and thinks
all that is not noble the dirt under her feet.'
My heart gave a great bound, and then seemed to swell and take away
my breath, so that I could not at first speak to stop those uttered
thoughts, which made me presently feel as if I were prying into a
letter, so as soon as I could get my voice I said, as well as I
could, 'My Lady, I hear you.
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