She thought she could endure anything that Lady Glencora might
say; but she would wait and hear what might be said.
"I think, Madame Goesler, that I had better hurry on to my subject
at once," said Lady Glencora, almost hesitating as she spoke, and
feeling that the colour was rushing up to her cheeks and covering her
brow. "Of course what I have to say will be disagreeable. Of course I
shall offend you. And yet I do not mean it."
"I shall be offended at nothing, Lady Glencora, unless I think that
you mean to offend me."
"I protest that I do not. You have seen my little boy."
"Yes, indeed. The sweetest child! God never gave me anything half so
precious as that."
"He is the Duke's heir."
"So I understand."
"For myself, by my honour as a woman, I care nothing. I am rich and
have all that the world can give me. For my husband, in this matter,
I care nothing. His career he will make for himself, and it will
depend on no title."
"Why all this to me, Lady Glencora? What have I to do with your
husband's titles?"
"Much;--if it be true that there is an idea of marriage between you
and the Duke of Omnium."
"Psha!" said Madame Goesler, with all the scorn of which she was
mistress.
"It is untrue, then?" asked Lady Glencora.
"No;--it is not untrue.
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