Chateau of Prince Polignac | Page 8

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