"I haven't talked very much with Anne," he said, pausing after a while, "but it seems to me that she is making a bid for liberty. She is an independent sort of girl, you know, after all, although she was very well content, up to a certain point, to take things as they came. I don't believe for a moment that she would marry me."
"At least," the Duchess persisted, "do your duty and ask her. If necessary, even let people know that you have asked her. It is your duty, Julien."
Julien hesitated no longer.
"Very well," he decided, "since you put it like that I will ask Anne, but I warn you, I think she will refuse me."
"She will do nothing of the sort," the Duchess declared; "but oh! Julien, it would make me so happy if you would take me to her, if I could have just a few minutes' talk with her first, before you said anything serious."
Julien smiled.
"Dear Duchess, I think not. I will go to see Anne alone. I will ask her to marry me in my own way. I will tell her that you are here, and whether she consents to marry me or not, I will bring her to see you. But my offer shall be made before you and she meet."
"You are a little hard, dear Julien," the Duchess murmured, "but let it be so. Only remember that the poor dear child may be feeling very sensitive—she must know that she has placed herself so completely in your power. Be nice to her, Julien."
The Duchess offered him a tentative but somewhat artificial embrace, which Julien with great skill evaded.
"We shall see," he remarked, "what happens. I shall find you here, I suppose?"