"
This was almost the same fancy that had occurred to Susan Meynell
five-and-thirty years before this time, when Gustave the first had
rescued her from the suicide's unrepentable sin.
That chivalrous turn of mind which was hereditary in the race of Lenoble
predisposed these men to pity loneliness and beauty, weakness and sorrow.
This pity for helplessness may have been indeed only an element of their
exceeding strength. Was not the rescue of weaklings and women an
unfailing attribute in the mighty men of old? Who so prompt as Hercules
to fly to the rescue of Hesione? Who so swift as Perseus to save
Andromeda? And what sea-monster more terrible than loneliness and
poverty?
In a few days there came another letter from Captain Paget, containing a
fresh summons to Omega Street.
"Lenoble positively returns to Normandy to-morrow," he wrote, "to see his
girls, and, no doubt, break the news of his approaching marriage. He much
wants to see you, and, as I have forbidden his calling on you at the
Lawn, can only meet you here. He is to drink tea with me at the usual
time to-morrow evening, and I shall expect to see you early in the
afternoon."
This afforded an opportunity for that introduction to which Miss Halliday
looked forward with so much interest.
"If Mr. Sheldon and your mamma will let you come with me this afternoon,
dear, I shall be very pleased to take you," said Diana; and she felt that
she would appear less in the character of a lamb led to the slaughter if
she could go to meet her betrothed accompanied by Charlotte.
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