Ethel Watts Mumford

“ I am actually afraid to think. I fear the moment when I shall be alone, and must work out the puzzle.”
Blanche shook out her skirts and rose to her feet.
“It would appear, however, you will have some time to wait before the awful moment, for I perceive Roland de Montalou, who, doubtless, will entertain you upon the all-important subject, for as many hours, days or years, as you will consent to listen. We will leave you. Rendezvous with us to-morrow—a little fiv-o'-cloque-de-rien-du-tout—to welcome you home. Come, Elise, and let Roland pour out his soul in peace to his mother confessor. ”

“ Born a De la Jour d'Estec, married to a Malèvique, she had found a wide field for her curiosity and ambitions in the treasures of a colossal past. She not only knew when, by whom, and how every acre of land and objet de vertu had come into the possession of the families, and what the public and political position of every ancestor had been, but her collection of letters and manuscripts relating to intimate and private affairs had led her to many strange discoveries of no small interest to history, had she been willing to reveal them. ”

“ She is, at one and the same moment, shy, daring, frank, Machiavellian, cruel, kind, matter-of-fact, and poetic. She is all things to all men, except the thing they most desire, and that she is to no man, I firmly believe, in spite of Madame de Colville and the anti-queen party!”
“And with all this,” observed Elise, “we haven't even inquired for your health, or when monsieur your husband comes home—what new treasures are on their way to the library, or who made that delicious pink, sunset cloud you are wearing—which goes to show you under what an obsession we have been laboring. ”

“ Jeanne fixed her eyes upon a distant tree-top. “She is, I understand, rather tall, very slender, but not thin; has rippling black hair in great masses, which she won't have powdered.”
“Won't have powdered! Why on earth should she?” exclaimed Elise and Blanche together. ”

“ Oh, how good it is to be in one's own book-world again! The world that is any century old one chooses to make it, and where one can be in any country wished for! Time and space at one's command, and the company one most desires! ”

“ Jeanne observed, with friendly frankness. 'Don't you love the girl enough to let her marry d'Alencourt and be happy ever after? However, girls these days know enough to feather their own nests, and we needn't worry.”
“Somehow, I'm not so sure that she is the girl of these days.”
D'Alencourt spoke slowly, almost reluctantly.
The vicomtesse looked up, quickly. Their mutual thought was like an electric shock. “Oh!” she exclaimed, as if to herself. “That would be droll!” But her grave eyes denied any merriment in the situation. “I shall call to-morrow,” she went on, “to-morrow afternoon. ”

“ I can't believe it!”
“You needn't take my word, of course,” said Madame de Colville, testily. “What I am imparting to you is not exclusive information. It's the common talk from here to Rouen. You don't imagine that any effort has been made by these American-circus protégées of Adelaide's and yours, to be unobserved. They simply do not seem to imagine that adverse criticism can be made. They do not appear to be aware of the existence of any one except those whom they choose to recognize as equals—imagine it!—quel toupet! There's only one thing to do—cancel that lease!”
“And Adelaide?” ”

“ Madame de Colville's irritation was obvious. “They have simply upset the whole neighborhood. The mother is a swearing, blustering person, who demands champagne at all hours—and she cheats at cards! The abbé is—well, a libertine, a scandal-monger—witty, I admit, but with no regard for decency. The aunt—ma chère! ”

“ With favor—yes, if one may say 'favor' of one who turns her glances impartially on all. There is not a word to be found in French, or in any other language, to describe such wholesale heart-slaughter. ”

“ I meant hair-dresser dressed, you know; very red lips, a brilliant color, long, black eyes, and a deep chin dimple.”
“I never dreamed Yolande would give you such an accurate description of her. She usually says she 'can't see what we find to admire.'”
“Adelaide has told me of her often,” Jeanne quibbled. “I will call at once. You have worked upon my imagination till, doubtless, the realities will prove a terrible disappointment. I'll find a coarse old lady, a self-sufficient parson, a dried-up aunt, and a silly, impertinent little girl.”
Blanche shook her head. ”