Their white scarves
were as much respected as the tawny colours of Conde, which every one
else wore who wished to be secured from insult.
I longed the more to be at home because my very dear brother, now
convalescent, was preparing everything for his journey to the Hague.
He had an interview with M. de Poligny, and convinced him that it was
hopeless to endeavour to gain Annora's consent to the match with his
son, and perhaps the good gentleman was not sorry to withdraw with
honour; and thus the suit waited till the Parliament should be at
leisure to attend to private affairs.
My mother was greatly disappointed, above all when my brother, in his
gentle but authoritative manner, requested her to withdraw her
opposition to my sister's marriage with Darpent, explaining that the
had consented, as knowing what his father's feeling would have been
towards so good a man. She wept, and said that it certainly would
not have been so bad in England, but under the nose of all her
friends--bah! and she was sure that Solivet would kill the fellow
rather than see canaille admitted into the family. However, if the
wedding took place at the Hague, where no one would hear of it, and
Annora chose to come back and live en bourgeoise, and not injure the
establishment of the Marquis de Nidemerle, she would not withhold her
blessing. So Annora was to go with Eustace, who indeed had not
intended to leave her behind him, never being sure what coercion
might be put on her.
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