"I am glad," I said.
"You cannot be as glad as I am," she answered; and she took both my
hands in one of hers and looked into my face, while tears rose to her
bright, rather sunken eyes. "To think that _he_ should take the trouble
to write!"
I ran away. I did not want to be unkind, and truly did not mean to; but
Augusta's manner, notwithstanding the reform in her character, was
almost past bearing.
"Poor, dear old father!" I said afterwards to Hermione, "he can little
realise what a fearful responsibility he has in life--the whole of
Augusta's future--and just because he is a clever lecturer. I really
cannot understand it."
"Nor I," said Hermione. "I myself think his speeches are rather dull;
but I suppose I have a different order of mind."
I remember quite well that on that occasion we girls were permitted to
go for a delightful walk into the Bois de Boulogne. We went, of course,
with some of the governesses; but when we got there we were allowed a
certain amount of freedom--for instance, we could choose our own
companions and walk with whom we pleased. We were just leaving the
house on this occasion when Comtesse Riki came up to me and asked if I
would walk with her. I acceded at once, although I had hoped for a long
walk with Hermione, as I had received a budget of home news on that day,
and I wanted to talk it over with her; last, but not least, there had
come a voluminous letter from Lilian St Leger. It was a little
provoking, but Riki's very pretty blue eyes, her pathetic mouth, and
sweet smile conquered. At the same instant Baroness Elfreda flew up to
Hermione and tucked her podgy hand inside the girl's arm.
"I couldn't walk with you, Dumps," she said, "for a dumpy girl couldn't
walk with another dumpy girl--so I want to be your friend, a sweet,
slight, graceful English girl."
Hermione consented with what patience she could, and we started off on
our walk. While we were in the town we had, of course, to walk two by
two; but presently, in a special and rather retired part of the gardens,
the governesses were less particular, and each couple was allowed to
keep a little away from the other.
"Now, that's a comfort," said Riki. "I have so much I want to ask you."
"What about?" I said.
"About your so delightful English ways. You have much of the freedom,
have you not?"
"I don't know," I replied.
"Oh, but you must! Think now; no girl here, nor in my country, nor in
any other, I think, on the Continent, would be allowed to go about
unattended--not at least before her marriage."
"But," I answered, "we don't think about getting married at all in
England--I mean girls of my age."
"If you don't think it impertinent, would you tell me what your age may
be?"