“Enchanting! And they can both stay here and take care of you while Gherardini and myself are on our wedding tour. Ridiculous etiquette, a wedding tour.”
“But, madame,” said Lilith, in a tone of surprise, “do you really wish to keep me on after your marriage?”
“I wish, and with your consent I intend, to hold you, as a dear sister, under my immediate protection as long as we both shall live, or until you shall be claimed by Tudor Hereward, in the case of his repentance, or by some better man in case of Hereward’s death.”
“But, madame——”
“There, there, mignonne, do not let us dispute to-night. It is time to go to bed. Write to-morrow to your friend Mrs. Downie, and invite her here in my name. To be present here at my marriage. And to take care of you during my absence. Put the last-mentioned reason strongly, as—to be of use would be a great inducement to that dear, unselfish soul! There are people, Lilith, who must be convinced that they are doing something of utility for somebody else before they can be persuaded to enjoy themselves. Convince this dear Aunt Sophie that you will need her, and she will come over and enjoy sightseeing in Paris with all the zest of youth. I will get Le Grange to see about the ticket to-morrow, so that you can inclose it in your letter.”
“But suppose, after all, she should not come? The ticket will be lost,” said Lilith.
“Well, the steamship company will gain. That is all,” replied the baroness, rising and putting her fair hand over her lips to conceal a yawn.
At this unmistakable sign of weariness, Lilith took the hint and rang the bell for the servants to close up the apartments.
In a few minutes the friends had retired.