the chateau of prince polignac-第3部分

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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。

〃Mees　Meemy；〃　continued　M。　Lacordaire；　〃is　very　anxious　to　see　the
rock；　and　I　may　perhaps　hope　that　Mees　Lilian　would　be　pleased　with
such　a　little　excursion。　　As　for　myself〃　and　then　M。　Lacordaire
put　his　hand　upon　his　heart　in　a　manner　that　seemed　to　speak　more
plainly　than　he　had　ever　spoken。

〃Well；　if　the　children　would　really　like　it；　andas　you　are　so　very
kind；〃　said　Mrs。　Thompson；　and　so　the　matter　was　conceded。

〃To…morrow　afternoon？〃　suggested　M。　Lacordaire。　　But　Mrs。　Thompson
fixed　on　Saturday；　thereby　showing　that　she　herself　was　in　no　hurry
for　the　expedition。

〃Oh；　I　am　so　glad！〃　said　Mimmy；　when　they　had　re…entered　their　own
room。　　〃Mamma；　do　let　me　tell　Lilian　myself　when　I　go　up　to　the
school　to…morrow！〃

But　mamma　was　in　no　humour　to　say　much　to　her　child　on　this　subject
at　the　present　moment。　　She　threw　herself　back　on　her　sofa　in
perfect　silence；　and　began　to　reflect　whether　she　would　like　to　sign
her　name　in　future　as　Fanny　Lacordaire；　instead　of　Fanny　Thompson。
It　certainly　seemed　as　though　things　were　verging　towards　such　a
necessity。　　A　marchand！　　But　a　marchand　of　what？　　She　had　an
instinctive　feeling　that　the　people　in　the　hotel　were　talking　about
her　and　M。　Lacordaire；　and　was　therefore　more　than　ever　averse　to
asking　any　one　a　question。

As　she　went　up　to　the　school　the　next　afternoon；　she　walked　through
more　of　the　streets　of　Le　Puy　than　was　necessary；　and　in　every
street　she　looked　at　the　names　which　she　saw　over　the　doors　of　the
more　respectable　houses　of　business。　　But　she　looked　in　vain。　　It
might　be　that　M。　Lacordaire　was　a　marchand　of　so　specially　high　a
quality　as　to　be　under　no　necessity　to　put　up　his　name　at　all。　　Sir
Hommajee　Bommajee's　name　did　not　appear　over　any　door　in　Bombay；at
least；　she　thought　not。

And　then　came　the　Saturday　morning。　　〃We　shall　be　ready　at　two；〃　she
said；　as　she　left　the　breakfast…table；　〃and　perhaps　you　would　not
mind　calling　for　Lilian　on　the　way。〃

M。　Lacordaire　would　be　delighted　to　call　anywhere　for　anybody　on
behalf　of　Mrs。　Thompson；　and　then；　as　he　got　to　the　door　of　the
salon；　he　offered　her　his　hand。　　He　did　so　with　so　much　French
courtesy　that　she　could　not　refuse　it；　and　then　she　felt　that　his
purpose　was　more　tender　than　ever　it　had　been。　　And　why　not；　if　this
was　the　destiny　which　Fate　had　prepared　for　her？

Mrs。　Thompson　would　rather　have　got　into　the　carriage　at　any　other
spot　in　Le　Puy　than　at　that　at　which　she　was　forced　to　do　sothe
chief　entrance；　namely；　of　the　Hotel　des　Ambassadeurs。　　And　what
made　it　worse　was　this；　that　an　appearance　of　a　special　fate　was
given　to　the　occasion。　　M。　Lacordaire　was　dressed　in　more　than　his
Sunday　best。　　He　had　on　new　yellow　kid　gloves。　　His　coat；　if　not
new；　was　newer　than　any　Mrs。　Thompson　had　yet　observed；　and　was
lined　with　silk　up　to　the　very　collar。　　He　had　on　patent　leather
boots；　which　glittered；　as　Mrs。　Thompson　thought；　much　too
conspicuously。　　And　as　for　his　hat；　it　was　quite　evident　that　it　was
fresh　that　morning　from　the　maker's　block。

In　this　costume；　with　his　hat　in　his　hand；　he　stood　under　the　great
gateway　of　the　hotel；　ready　to　hand　Mrs。　Thompson　into　the　carriage。
This　would　have　been　nothing　if　the　landlord　and　landlady　had　not
been　there　also；　as　well　as　the　man…cook；　and　the　four　waiters；　and
the　fille　de　chambre。　　Two　or　three　other　pair　of　eyes　Mrs。　Thompson
also　saw；　as　she　glanced　round；　and　then　Mimmy　walked　across　the
yard　in　her　best　clothes　with　a　fete…day　air　about　her　for　which　her
mother　would　have　liked　to　have　whipped　her。

But　what　did　it　matter？　　If　it　was　written　in　the　book　that　she
should　become　Madame　Lacordaire；　of　course　the　world　would　know　that
there　must　have　been　some　preparatory　love…making。　　Let　them　have
their　laugh；　a　good　husband　would　not　be　dearly　purchased　at　so
trifling　an　expense。　　And　so　they　sallied　forth　with　already　half
the　ceremony　of　a　wedding。

Mimmy　seated　herself　opposite　to　her　mother；　and　M。　Lacordaire　also
sat　with　his　back　to　the　horses；　leaving　the　second　place　of　honour
for　Lilian。　　〃Pray　make　yourself　comfortable；　M。　Lacordaire；　and
don't　mind　her；〃　said　Mrs。　Thompson。　　But　he　was　firm　in　his　purpose
of　civility；　perhaps　making　up　his　mind　that　when　he　should　in　truth
stand　in　the　place　of　papa　to　the　young　lady；　then　would　be　his　time
for　having　the　back　seat　in　the　carnage。

Lilian；　also　in　her　best　frock；　came　down　the　school…steps；　and
three　of　the　school　teachers　came　with　her。　　It　would　have　added　to
Mrs。　Thompson's　happiness　at　that　moment　if　M。　Lacordaire　would　have
kept　his　polished　boots　out　of　sight；　and　put　his　yellow　gloves　into
his　pocket。

And　then　they　started。　　The　road　from　Le　Puy　to　Polignac　is　nearly
all　up　hill；　and　a　very　steep　hill　it　is；　so　that　there　was　plenty
of　time　for　conversation。　　But　the　girls　had　it　nearly　all　to
themselves。　　Mimmy　thought　that　she　had　never　found　M。　Lacordaire　so
stupid；　and　Lilian　told　her　sister　on　the　first　safe　opportunity
that　occurred；　that　it　seemed　very　much　as　though　they　were　all
going　to　church。

〃And　do　any　of　the　Polignac　people　ever　live　at　this　place？〃　asked
Mrs。　Thompson；　by　way　of　making　conversation；　in　answer　to　which　M。
Lacordaire　informed　madame　that　the　place　was　at　present　only　a
ruin；　and　then　there　was　again　silence　till　they　found　themselves
under　the　rock；　and　were　informed　by　the　driver　that　the　rest　of　the
ascent　must　be　made　on　foot。

The　rock　now　stood　abrupt　and　precipitous　above　their　heads。　　It　was
larger　in　its　circumference　and　with　much　larger　space　on　its　summit
than　those　other　volcanic　rocks　in　and　close　to　the　town；　but　then
at　the　same　time　it　was　higher　from　the　ground；　and　quite　as
inaccessible；　except　by　the　single　path　which　led　up　to　the　chateau。

M。　Lacordaire；　with　conspicuous　gallantry；　first　assisted　Mrs。
Thompson　from　the　carriage；　and　then　handed　down　the　two　young
ladies。　　No　lady　could　have　been　so　difficult　to　please　as　to
complain　of　him；　and　yet　Mrs。　Thompson　thou