Part 4 (2/2)

”Well, I'm easy to know,” she said, carelessly, leaning back; ”but, then, I'm not worth knowing.”

”Is one allowed to find out?”

”Oh yes--of course! Do you know--when you were over there, I _willed_ that you should come and talk to me, and you came. Only,” she sat up with animation, and began to tick off her sentences on her fingers--”Don't ask me how long I've been in town. Don't ask where I was in Paris. Don't inquire whether I like b.a.l.l.s! You see, I warn you at once”--she looked up frankly--”that we mayn't lose time.”

”Well, then, I don't see how I'm ever to find out,” said Ashe, stoutly.

”Whether I'm worth knowing?” She considered, then bent forward eagerly.

”Look here! I'll just tell you everything in a lump, and then that'll do--won't it? Listen. I'm just eighteen. I was sent to the Soeurs Blanches when I was thirteen--the year papa died. I _didn't_ like papa--I'm very sorry, but I didn't! However, that's by-the-way. In all those years I have only seen maman once--she doesn't like children. But my aunt Grosville has some French relations--very, _very_ 'comme il faut,' you understand--and I used to go and stay with them for the holidays. Tell me!--did you ever hunt in France?”

”Never,” said Ashe, startled and amused by the sudden glance of enthusiasm that lit up the face and expressed itself in the clasped hands.

”Oh! it's such heaven,” she said, lifting her shoulders with an extravagant gesture--”such _heaven_! First there are the old dresses--the men look such darlings!--and then the horns, and the old ways they have--_si n.o.ble!--si distingue!_--not like your stupid English hunting. And then the dogs! Ah! the _dogs_”--the shoulders went higher still; ”do you know my cousin Henri actually gave me a puppy of the great breed--_the_ breed, you know--the Dogs of St. Hubert. Or at least he _would_ if maman would have let me bring it over. And she wouldn't!

Just think of that! When there are thousands of people in France who'd give the eyes out of their head for one. I cried all one night--Allons!--faut pas y penser!”--she shook back the hair from her eyes with an impatient gesture. ”My cousins have got a chateau, you know, in the Seine-et-Oise. They've promised to ask me next year--when the Grand-Duke Paul comes--if I'll promise to behave. You see, I'm not a bit like French girls--I had so many affairs!”

Her eyes flashed with laughter.

Ashe laughed too.

”Are you going to tell me about them also?”

She drew herself up.

”No! I play fair, always--ask anybody! Oh, I _do_ want to go back to France so badly!” Once more she was all appeal and childishness.

”Anyway, I won't stay in England! I have made up my mind to that!”

”How long has it taken?”

”A fortnight,” she said, slowly--”just a fortnight.”

”That hardly seems time enough--does it?” said Ashe. ”Give us a little longer.”

”No--I--I hate you!” said Lady Kitty, with a strange drop in her voice.

Her little fingers began to drum on the table near her, and to Ashe's intense astonishment he saw her eyes fill with tears.

Suddenly a movement towards the other room set in around them. Madame d'Estrees could be heard giving directions. A s.p.a.ce was made in the large drawing-room--a little table appeared in it, and a footman placed thereon a gla.s.s of water.

Lady Kitty looked up.

”Oh, that _detestable_ man!” she said, drawing back. ”No--I can't, I can't bear it. Come with me!” and beckoning to Ashe she fled with precipitation into the farther part of the inner drawing-room, out of her mother's sight. Ashe followed her, and she dropped panting and elate into a chair.

Meanwhile the outer room gathered to hear the recitation of some _vers de societe_, fondly believed by their author to be of a very pretty and Praedian make. They certainly amused the company, who laughed and clapped as each neat personality emerged. Lady Kitty pa.s.sed the time either in a running commentary on the reciter, which occasionally convulsed her companion, or else in holding her small hands over her ears.

When it was over, she drew a long breath.

”How maman _can!_ Oh! how _bete_ you English are to applaud such a man!

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