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widow of a gentleman who had served for many years in the civil
service of the East Indies； and who； on dying； had left her a
comfortable income ofit matters not how many pounds； but
constituting quite a sufficiency to enable her to live at her ease
and educate her daughters。
Her children had been sent home to England before her husband's
death； and after that event she had followed them； but there； though
she was possessed of moderate wealth； she had no friends and few
acquaintances； and after a little while she had found life to be
rather dull。 Her customs were not those of England； nor were her
propensities English； therefore she had gone abroad； and having
received some recommendation of this school at Le Puy； had made her
way thither。 As it appeared to her that she really enjoyed more
consideration at Le Puy than had been accorded to her either at
Torquay or Leamington； there she remained from day to day。 The
total payment required at the Hotel des Ambassadeurs was but six
francs daily for herself and three and a half for her little girl；
and where else could she live with a better junction of economy and
comfort？ And then the gentleman who always sat next to her was so
exceedingly civil！
The gentleman's name was M。 Lacordaire。 So much she knew； and had
learned to call him by his name very frequently。 Mimmy； too； was
quite intimate with M。 Lacordaire； but nothing more than his name
was known of him。 But M。 Lacordaire carried a general letter of
recommendation in his face； manner； gait； dress； and tone of voice。
In all these respects there was nothing left to be desired； and； in
addition to this； he was decorated； and wore the little red ribbon
of the Legion of Honour； ingeniously twisted into the shape of a
small flower。
M。 Lacordaire might be senior in age to Mrs。 Thompson by about ten
years； nor had he about him any of the airs or graces of a would…be
young man。 His hair； which he wore very short； was grizzled； as was
also the small pretence of a whisker which came down about as far as
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