the chateau of prince polignac-第6节

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There　was　nothing　more　said　upon　the　subject　as　they　drove　down　from
the　rock　of　Polignac　back　to　the　town。　　Immediately　on　receiving　the
announcement；　Mrs。　Thompson　found　that　she　had　no　answer　to　make。
She　withdrew　her　handand　felt　at　once　that　she　had　received　a
blow。　　It　was　not　that　she　was　angry　with　M。　Lacordaire　for　being　a
tailor；　nor　was　she　angry　with　him　in　that；　being　a　tailor；　he　had
so　addressed　her。　　But　she　was　surprised；　disappointed；　and
altogether　put　beyond　her　ease。　　She　had；　at　any　rate；　not　expected
this。　　She　had　dreamed　of　his　being　a　banker；　thought　that；　perhaps；
he　might　have　been　a　wine　merchant；　but　her　idea　had　never　gone
below　a　jeweller　or　watchmaker。　　When　those　words　broke　upon　her
ear；　〃Madame；　je　suis　tailleur；〃　she　had　felt　herself　to　be
speechless。

But　the　words　had　not　been　a　minute　spoken　when　Lilian　and　Mimmy　ran
up　to　their　mother。　　〃Oh；　mamma；〃　said　Lilian；　〃we　thought　you　were
lost；　we　have　searched　for　you　all　over　the　chateau。〃

〃We　have　been　sitting　very　quietly　here；　my　dear；　looking　at　the
view；〃　said　Mrs。　Thompson。

〃But；　mamma；　I　do　wish　you'd　see　the　mouth　of　the　oracle。　　It　is　so
large；　and　so　round；　and　so　ugly。　　I　put　my　arm　into　it　all　the
way；〃　said　Mimmy。

But　at　the　present　moment　her　mamma　felt　no　interest　in　the　mouth　of
the　oracle；　and　so　they　all　walked　down　together　to　the　carriage。
And；　though　the　way　was　steep；　Mrs。　Thompson　managed　to　pick　her
steps　without　the　assistance　of　an　arm；　nor　did　M。　Lacordaire
presume　to　offer　it。

The　drive　back　to　town　was　very　silent。　　Mrs。　Thompson　did　make　one
or　two　attempts　at　conversation；　but　they　were　not　effectual。　　M。
Lacordaire　could　not　speak　at　his　ease　till　this　matter　was　settled；
and　he　already　had　begun　to　perceive　that　his　business　was　against
him。　　Why　is　it　that　the　trade　of　a　tailor　should　be　less　honourable
than　that　of　a　haberdasher；　or　even　a　grocer？

They　sat　next　each　other　at　dinner；　as　usual；　and　here；　as　all　eyes
were　upon　them；　they　both　made　a　great　struggle　to　behave　in　their
accustomed　way。　　But　even　in　this　they　failed。　　All　the　world　of　the
Hotel　des　Ambassadeurs　knew　that　M。　Lacordaire　had　gone　forth　to
make　an　offer　to　Mrs。　Thompson；　and　all　that　world；　therefore；　was
full　of　speculation。　　But　all　the　world　could　make　nothing　of　it。
M。　Lacordaire　did　look　like　a　rejected　man；　but　Mrs。　Thompson　did
not　look　like　the　woman　who　had　rejected　him。　　That　the　offer　had
been　madein　that　everybody　agreed；　from　the　senior　habitue　of　the
house　who　always　sat　at　the　head　of　the　table；　down　to　the　junior
assistant　garcon。　　But　as　to　reading　the　riddle；　there　was　no　accord
among　them。

When　the　dessert　was　done；　Mrs。　Thompson；　as　usual；　withdrew；　and　M。
Lacordaire；　as　usual；　bowed　as　he　stood　behind　his　own　chair。　　He
did　not；　however；　attempt　to　follow　her。

But　when　she　reached　the　door　she　called　him。　　He　was　at　her　side　in
a　moment；　and　then　she　whispered　in　his　ear　…

〃And　I；　alsoI　will　be　of　the　same　business。〃

When　M。　Lacordaire　regained　the　table　the　senior　habitue；　the　junior
garcon；　and　all　the　intermediate　ranks　of　men　at　the　Hotel　des
Ambassadeurs　knew　that　they　might　congratulate　him。

Mrs。　Thompson　had　made　a　great　struggle；　but；　speaking　for　myself；　I
am　inclined　to　think　that　she　arrived　at　last　at　a　wise　decision。







End