As it was, the dark eyes met her fierce glance and sunk
beneath it, while such a painful crimson suffused the fair cheeks
that I longed to fly to the rescue, and to give at least a look of
assurance that I acquitted her of all blame, and did not share my
sister's indignation. But there was no uplifting of the eyelids
again till the ceremony was ended, and we all had to take our places
again in one of the thirty state coaches in which the company had
come to the christening.
I saw Madame van Hunker led out by a solid, wooden-faced old
Dutchman, who looked more like her father than her husband; and I
told Annora that I was sure she had worn the pearls only because he
compelled her.
'Belike,' said my sister. 'She hath no more will of her own than a
hank of flax! That men can waste their hearts on such moppets as
that!'
But though we did not at all agree on the impression Madame van
Hunker had made on us, we were of one mind to say nothing of it to
Eustace.
Another person laid her hand on Annora's arm as she was about to
enter our carriage. 'Mistress Ribmont!' she exclaimed; 'I knew not
that you were present in this land of our exile.'
I looked and saw a lady, as fantastically dressed as the mourning
would permit, and with a keen clever face, and Nan curtsied, saying:
'My Lady Marchioness of Newcastle! let me present to you my sister,
Madame la Vicomtesse de Bellaise.'
She curtsied and asked in return for Lord Walwyn, declaring that her
lord would come and see him, and that we must come to visit her.
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