the middle of his ear； but the tuft on his chin was still brown；
without a gray hair。 His eyes were bright and tender； his voice was
low and soft； his hands were very white； his clothes were always new
and well fitting； and a better…brushed hat could not be seen out of
Paris； nor perhaps in it。
Now； during the weeks which Mrs。 Thompson had passed at La Puy； the
acquaintance which she had formed with M。 Lacordaire had progressed
beyond the prolonged meals in the salle a manger。 He had
occasionally sat beside her evening table as she took her English
cup of tea in her own room； her bed being duly screened off in its
distant niche by becoming curtains； and then he had occasionally
walked beside her； as he civilly escorted her to the lions of the
place； and he had once accompanied her； sitting on the back seat of
a French voiture； when she had gone forth to see something of the
surrounding country。
On all such occasions she had been accompanied by one of her
daughters； and the world of Le Puy had had nothing material to say
against her。 But still the world of Le Puy had whispered a little；
suggesting that M。 Lacordaire knew very well what he was about。 But
might not Mrs。 Thompson also know as well what she was about？ At
any rate； everything had gone on very pleasantly since the
acquaintance had been made。 And now； so much having been explained；
we will go back to the elaborate breakfast at the Hotel des
Ambassadeurs。
Mrs。 Thompson； holding Mimmy by the hand； walked into the room some
few minutes after the last bell had been rung； and took the place
which was now hers by custom。 The gentlemen who constantly
frequented the house all bowed to her； but M。 Lacordaire rose from
his seat and offered her his hand。
〃And how is Mees Meemy this morning？〃 said he； for 'twas thus he
always pronounced her name。
Miss Mimmy； answering for herself； declared that she was very well；
and suggested that M。 Lacordaire should give her a fig from off a
dish that was placed immediately before him on the table。 This M。
Lacordaire did； presenting it very elegantly between his two
fingers； and making a little bow to the little lady as he did so。
〃Fie； Mimmy！〃 said her mother； 〃why do you ask for the things before
the waiter brings them round？〃
〃But； mamma；〃 said Mimmy； speaking English； 〃M。 Lacordaire always
gives me a fig every morning。〃
〃M。 Lacordaire always spoils you； I think；〃 answered Mrs。 Thompson；
in French。 And then they went thoroughly to work at their
breakfast。 During the whole meal M。 Lacordaire attended assiduously
to his neighbour； and did so without any evil result； except that
one Frenchman with a black moustache； at the head of the table； trod
on the toe of another Frenchman with another black moustache
winking as he made the signjust as M。 Lacordaire； having selected
a bunch of grapes； put it on Mrs。 Thompson's plate with infinite
grace。 But who among us all is free from such impertinences as
these？
〃But madame really must see the chateau of Prince Polignac before
she leaves Le Puy；〃 said M。 Lacordaire。
〃The chateau of who？〃 asked Mimmy； to whose young ears the French
words were already becoming familiar。
〃Prince Polignac； my dear。 Well； I really don't know； M。
Lacordaire；I have seen a great deal of the place already； and I
shall be going now very soon； probably in a day or two；〃 said Mrs。
Thompson。
〃But madame must positively see the chateau；〃 said M。 Lacordaire；
very impressively； and then after a pause he added； 〃If madame will
have the complaisance to commission me to procure a carriage for
this afternoon； and will allow me the honour to be her guide； I
shall consider myself one of the most fortunate of men。〃
〃Oh； yes； mamma； do go；〃 said Mimmy； clapping her hands。 〃And it is
Thursday； and Lilian can go with us。〃
〃Be quiet； Mimmy； do。 Thank you； no； M。 Lacordaire。 I could not go
to…day； but I am extremely obliged by your politeness。〃
M。 Lacordaire still pressed the matter； and Mrs。 Thompson still
declined till it was time to rise from the table。 She then declared
that she did not think it possible that she should visit the chateau
before she left Le Puy； but that she would give him an answer at
dinner。
The most tedious time in the day to Mrs。 Thompson were the two hours
after breakfast。 At one o'clock she daily went to the school；
taking Mimmy； who for an hour or two shared her sister's lessons。
This and her little excursions about the place； and her shopping；
managed to make away with her afternoon。 Then in the evening； she
generally saw something of M。 Lacordaire。 But those two hours after
breakfast were hard of killing。
On this occasion； when she gained her own room； she as usual placed
Mimmy on the sofa with a needle。 Her custom then was to take up a
novel； but on this morning she sat herself down in her arm…chair；
and resting her head upon her hand and elbow； began to turn over
certain circumstances in her mind。
〃Mamma；〃 said Mimmy； 〃why won't you go with M。 Lacordaire to that
place belonging to the prince？ PrincePolly something； wasn't it？〃
〃Mind your work； my dear；〃 said Mrs。 Thompson。
〃But I do so wish you'd go； mamma。 What was the prince's name？〃
〃Polignac。〃
〃Mamma； ain't princes very great people？〃
〃Yes； my dear； sometimes。〃
〃Is Prince Polly…nac like our Prince Alfred？〃
〃No； my dear； not at all。 At least； I suppose not。〃
〃Is his mother a queen？〃
〃No； my dear。〃
〃Then his father must be a king？〃
〃No； my dear。 It is quite a different thing here。 Here in France
they have a great many princes。〃
〃Well； at any rate I should like to see a prince's chateau； so I do
hope you'll go。〃 And then there was a pause。 〃Mamma； could it come
to pass； here in France； that M。 Lacordaire should ever be a
prince？〃
〃M。 Lacordaire a prince！ No； don't talk such nonsense； but mind
your work。〃
〃Isn't M。 Lacordaire a very nice man？ Ain't you very fond of him？〃
To this question Mrs。 Thompson made no answer。
〃Mamma；〃 continued Mimmy； after a moment's pause； 〃won't you tell me
whether you are fond of M。 Lacordaire？ I'm quite sure of this；
that he's very fond of you。〃
〃What makes you think that？〃 asked Mrs。 Thompson； who could not
bring herself to refrain from the question。
〃Because he looks at you in that way； mamma； and squeezes your
hand。〃
〃Nonsense； child；〃 said Mrs。 Thompson； 〃hold your tongue。 I don't
know what can have put such stuff into your head。〃
〃But he does； mamma；〃 said Mimmy； who rarely allowed her mother to
put her down。
Mrs。 Thompson made no further answer； but again sat with her head
resting on her hand。 She also； if the truth must be told； was
thinking of M。 Lacordaire and his fondness for herself。 He had
squeezed her hand and he had looked into her face。 However much it
may have been nonsense on Mimmy's part to talk of such things； they
had not the less absolutely occurred。 Was it really the fact that
M。 Lacordaire was in love with her？
And if so； what return should she； or could she make to such a
passion？ He had looked at her yesterday； and squeezed her hand to…
day。 Might it not be probable that he would advance a step further
to…morrow？ If so； what answer would she be prepared to make to him？
She did not thinkso she said to herselfthat she had any
particular objection to marrying again。 Thompson had been dead now
for four years； and neither his friends； nor her friends； nor the
world could say she was wrong on that score。 And as to marrying a
Frenchman； she could not say she felt within herself any absolute
repugnance to doing that。 Of her own country； speaking of England
as such； she； in truth； knew but littleand perhaps cared less。
She had gone to India almost as a child； and England had not been
specially kind to her on her return。 She had found it dull and
cold； stiff； and almost ill…natured。 People there had not smiled on
her and been civil as M。 Lacordaire had done。 As far as England and
Englishmen were considered she saw no reason why she should not
marry M。 Lacordaire。
And then； as regarded the man； could she in her heart say that she
was prepared to love； honour； and obey M。 Lacordaire？ She certainly
knew no reason why she should not do so。 She did not know much of
him； she said to herself at first； but she knew as much； she said
afterwards； as she had known personally of Mr。 Thompson before their
marriage。 She had known； to be sure； what was Mr。 Thompson's
profession and what his income； or； if not； some one else had known
for her。 As to both these points she was quite in the dark as
regarded M。 Lacordaire。
Personally； she certainly did like him； as she said to herself more
than once。 There was a courtesy and softness about him which were
very gratifying to her； and then； his appearance was so much in his
favour。 He was not very young； she acknowledged； but neither was
she young herself。 It was quite evident that he was fond of her
children； and that he would be a kind and affectionate father to
them。 Indeed； there was kindness in all that he did。
Should she marry again；and she put it to herself quite
hypothetically；she would look for no romance in such a second
marriage。 She would be content to sit down in a quiet home； to the
tame dull realities of life； satisfied with the companionship of a
man who would be kind and gentle to her； and whom she could respect
and esteem。 Where could she find a companion with whom this could
be more safely anticipated than with M。 Lacordaire？
And so she argued the question within her own breast in a manner not
unfriendly to that gentleman。 That there was as yet one great
hindrance she at once saw； but then that might be remedied by a
word。 She did not know what was his income or his profession。 The
chambermaid； whom she had interrogated； had told her that he was a
〃marchand。〃 To merchants； generally； she felt that she had no
objection。 The Barings and the Rothschilds were merchants； as was
also that wonderful man at Bombay； Sir Hommajee Bommajee； who was
worth she did no know how many thousand lacs of rupees。
That it would behove her； on her own account and that of her
daughters； to take ca