"
"O yes, of course, always accidental," replied Gustave, smiling.
"I am sorry you are going to leave London--for papa's sake."
"And I, too, am sorry--for my own sake. But, you see, when one has
daughters, and a farm, and a chateau, one must be on the spot. I came to
England for one week only, and I have stayed six."
"You have found so much to amuse you in London?"
"Nay, mademoiselle, so much to interest me."
"It is almost the same thing, is it not?"
"A thousand times no! To be amused and to be interested--ah, what can be
so widely different as those two conditions of mind!"
"Indeed! Good night, Mr. Lenoble. Please ask the cabman to drive as fast
as he can venture to do with consideration for his horse. I am afraid I
shall be late, and my friends will be anxious about me."
"You will be late. You consider your friends at Bayswater, and you
consider even the cabman's horse. You are charity itself. Will you not
consider me a little also, Miss Paget?"
"But how?"
"Let me see you before I go back to Normandy. Your papa likes to see you
twice a week, I know. This is Monday night; will you come to see him on
Thursday?"
"If he wishes it."
"He does wish it. Ah, how he wishes it! You will come?"
"If Mrs. Sheldon and Charlotte can spare me."
"They cannot spare you. No one can spare you. That cannot be. It
is amongst the things that are impossible.
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