Madame
Goesler, as she took it, could not help thinking how it might have
been with her had she accepted the coronet which had been offered. In
that case she might have been a duchess herself, but assuredly she
would not have been waited upon by a future duchess. As it was, there
was no one in that family who had not cause to be grateful to her.
When the Duke had sipped a spoonful of his broth, and swallowed his
allowance of wine, they both left him, and the respectable old lady
with the smart cap was summoned back to her position. "I suppose he
whispered something very gracious to you," Lady Glencora said when
they were alone.
"Very gracious."
"And you were gracious to him,--I hope."
"I meant to be."
"I'm sure you did. Poor old man! If you had done what he asked you I
wonder whether his affection would have lasted as it has done."
"Certainly not, Lady Glen. He would have known that I had injured
him."
"I declare I think you are the wisest woman I ever met, Madame Max.
I am sure you are the most discreet.
Pages:
386
387
388
389
390
391
392
393
394
395
396
397
398
399
400
401
402
403
404
405
406
407
408
409
410