That is enough.'
But the poor little thing thought herself bound still to persuade me
with the arguments put into her mouth, till I asked her whether she
could wish me to forget her brother, or if in my place she would do
such a thing as give a father like M. de Lamont to her children. Then
she began to weep, and asked me to forgive her, ending in her
simplicity with:
'The Prince would have been pleased with my husband, and perhaps he
would borne me good will for it!'
'Ah! Cecile,' I said, embracing her; 'I would do much for you, but
you must not ask me to do this.'
The next question was about a visit of condolence to be paid to
Madame Darpent. We still kept the Ommaneys with us, on the pretext
that the presence of a gentleman gave a sense of security in the
condition of the city, but chiefly because we feared that they would
be half-starved in their lodgings.
Sir Francis told us that Madame Darpent was, 'after your French
fashion,' as he said, receiving visits of condolence in her bed, and,
considering how good and obliging the young man had been, he supposed
we should pay one. Annora's eyes shone, but to my surprise she said
nothing, and I was quite ready to consent, since I too felt under
such obligations to the younger Darpent that I could let no scruple
about condescension stand in my way, and I was glad that my mother
could not hear of it until after it was done.
Lady Ommaney, however, looked rather old and mysterious.
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