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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 care of her own little fortune in contracting any
such connection； that she felt strongly。 She would never so commit
herself as to put security in that respect out of her power。 But
then she did not think that M。 Lacordaire would ever ask her to do
so； at any rate； she was determined on this； that there should never
be any doubt on that matter； and as she firmly resolved on this； she
again took up her book； and for a minute or two made an attempt to
read。
〃Mamma；〃 said Mummy； 〃will M。 Lacordaire go up to the school to see
Lilian when you go away from this？〃
〃Indeed； I cannot say； my dear。 If Lilian is a good girl； perhaps
he may do so now and then。〃
〃And will he write to you and tell you how she is？〃
〃Lilian can write for herself； can she not？〃
〃Oh yes； I suppose she can； but I hope M。 Lacordaire will write too。
We shall come back here some day； shan't we； mamma？〃
〃I cannot say； my dear。〃
〃I do so hope we shall see M。 Lacordaire again。 Do you know what I
was thinking； mamma？〃
〃Little girls like you ought not to think；〃 said Mrs。 Thompson；
walking slowly out of the room to the top of the stairs and back
again； for she had felt the necessity of preventing Mimmy from
disclosing any more of her thoughts。 〃And now； my dear； get
yourself ready； and we will go up to the school。〃
Mrs。 Thompson always dressed herself with care； though not in
especially fine clothes； before she went down to dinner at the table
d'hote； but on this occasion she was more than usually particular。
She hardly explained to herself why she did this； but； nevertheless；
as she stood before the glass； she did in a certain manner feel that
the circumstances of her future life might perhaps depend on what
might be said and done that evening。 She had not absolutely decided
whether or no she would go to the Prince's chateau； but if she did
go …。 Well； if she did； what then？ She had sense enough； as she
assured herself more than once； to regulate her own conduct with
propriety in any such emergency。
During the dinner； M。 Lacordaire conversed in his usual manner； but
said nothing whatever about the visit to Polignac。 He was very kind
to Mimmy； and very courteous to her mother； but did not appear to be
at all more particular than usual。 Indeed； it might be a question
whether he was not less so。 As she had entered the room Mrs。
Thompson had said to herself that； perhaps； after all； it would be
better that there should be nothing more thought about it； but
before the four of five courses were over； she was beginning to feel
a little disappointed。
And now the fruit was on the table； after the consumption of which
it was her practice to retire。 It was certainly open to her to ask
M。 Lacordaire to take tea with her that evening； as she had done on
former occasions； but she felt that she must not do this now；
considering the immediate circumstances of the case。 If any further
steps were to be taken； they must be taken by him； and not by her；
or else by Mimmy； who； just as her mother was slowly consuming her
last grapes； ran round to the back of M。 Lacordaire's chair； and
whispered something into his ear。 It may be presumed that Mrs。
Thompson did not see the intention of the movement in time to arrest
it； for she did nothing till the whispering had been whispered； and
then she rebuked the child； bade her not to be troublesome； and with
more than usual austerity in her voice； desired her to get herself
ready to go up stairs to their chamber。
As she spoke she herself rose from her chair； and made her final
little bow to the table； and her other final little bow and smile to
M。 Lacordaire； but this was certain to all who saw it； that the
smile was not as gracious as usual。
As she walked forth； M。 Lacordaire rose from his chairsuch being
his constant practice when she left the table； but on this occasion
he accompanied her to the door。
〃And has madame decided；〃 he asked； 〃whether she will permit me to
accompany her to the chateau？〃
〃Well； I really don't know；〃 said Mrs。 Thompson。
〃Me