“‘But my dancing,’ I objected.
“‘My child,’ he said, ‘I will speak to you frankly. You are a good dancer, but you will never be a great artist. No—your place is in the world.’
“‘But will his family consent?’ I asked.
“‘Yes. He has caused them many anxieties, and they wish him to settle down with some nice girl until they can find a very wealthy wife for him. That is not possible at present. Of course they will wish to see you. What do you say?’
“What could I say except yes? It was, as my step-father said, a great opportunity—much better than I could have hoped for. A few days later Baron Lappo came to see me. He approved of me, and so the marriage was arranged. Behold the result,” and she offered herself with a little gesture, as a showman might offer his wares.
“The result is wholly admirable,” said Selden. “Yes, you were right to accept. And your step-father?”
“His heart stopped beating one day as he had foretold,” she answered, her lips trembling. “He was the best man I ever knew.”
“But your mother is living?”
“Oh, yes; she lives with my sister. My sister married a little bourgeois shopkeeper. They manage the business much better than he could.”
“And Mlle. Fayard?”