"My chief desire is to become better acquainted with M. de la Rochaiguë and his family, for then they will doubtless treat me with less ceremony, and cease to pay me compliments which embarrass me greatly, but which they probably feel obliged to pay me in order to make me feel at ease.
"They are so kind that each person in turn seems to be racking his or her brain for the pleasantest and most complimentary thing they can say to me. By and by, I hope that they will see they do not need to flatter me to gain my affection. One would almost suppose from their manner that they were under the greatest obligations to me for being allowed to receive me into their household. This does not surprise me much, however, my dearest mother, for how often you have told me that refined people always seem grateful for the services they are able to render others.
"I have had some very painful moments to-day,—not by any fault of my guardian or his family, however.
"This morning, a gentleman (my notary, as I learned afterwards) was introduced to me by my guardian, who said:
"'My dear ward, I think it would be well for you to know the precise amount of your fortune, and this gentleman will now tell you.'
"Whereupon, the notary, opening a book he had brought with him, showed me the last page all covered with figures, and said:
"'Mademoiselle, from the exact'—he used a word here that I have forgotten—'your yearly income amounts to the sum of three million one hundred and twenty thousand francs, which gives you nearly eight thousand francs a day, so you are the richest heiress in France.'
"This, my poor dear mother, reminded me again of what, alas! I scarcely ever forget,—that I was an orphan, and alone in the world; and in spite of all my efforts to control my feelings, I wept bitterly."
Ernestine was obliged to stop writing. Her tears had burst forth afresh, for to this tender-hearted, artless child, this rich inheritance meant the loss of her mother and of her father.
Becoming calmer after a few moments, she resumed her pen, and continued: