“Yes, but he is her husband; and it was a mere ostentation of usefulness on her part, for your mother told me she need not do anything of the kind if she did not wish it. Crescenz, however, does not appear misplaced when so employed, but you——”
“Strictly speaking, I am not more misplaced than she is. We have both received an education beyond our station in the world. I have, perhaps, profited more by the instruction bestowed on me than she has; but you must allow that she has shown infinitely more capacity for the necessary duties of life.”
“If it be her duty to iron her husband’s shirts,” answered Hamilton, laughing, “I must say she performs it in the most charming manner possible. Nothing could be more coquettish than the black silk handkerchief twisted round her head to prevent her from feeling the draught of air, or the sleeves tucked up just enough to exhibit the dimples in her white arms! I must say, Crescenz is perfectly aware of all her personal advantages!”
“And who is not aware of them?” said Hildegarde, “or rather who does not overrate them?”
“You do not, most certainly!” cried Hamilton. “I am convinced you do not think——”
“That I am handsome?” said Hildegarde, interrupting him quietly; “I know it perfectly well. You are shocked at my candour,” she added, after a pause, on observing that he continued silent; “it would have been more proper to have disclaimed—but, after all, what worth have regular features, when they are inanimate? And mine are so, I know.”
“You are mistaken,” said Hamilton; “I have never known anyone whose features have expressed so many various emotions as yours have during the few months of our acquaintance.”
“That I have felt more than during the whole of my previous life, is most certain,” she said, thoughtfully. “It seems, then, I have not been able to acquire that composure of mind and feature which Mademoiselle Hortense so often told me would be essentially necessary for my happiness.”
“I am rather inclined to hate that Mademoiselle Hortense without ever having seen her,” cried Hamilton; “I think she wished to make an actress of you!”
“No, she wished to make a good governess of me, as my step-mother desired her, and she saw that my pride and violence of temper would prove serious obstacles. My gratitude to her is unbounded for all her care and attention during so many years. She is my only hope for the future too—on her I depend to find me some respectable situation, should my residence here become uncomfortable.”