"That is it exactly," said Mlle. de Beaumesnil, delighted with this excuse. "My relative is not bad at heart, but so peevish, and such a grumbler. I don't believe there was ever another such grumbler in the world," she added, smiling.
"That is enough for me," exclaimed Herminie, laughing in her turn. "If she's a grumbler, she'll never have a visit from me. The only way out of the difficulty, Ernestine, is for you to come and see me whenever you have time."
"I was just going to ask you to grant me that privilege."
"Yes, yes, you shall come and see how pretty my room is," said the duchess.
Then remembering that her new friend was not as comfortably housed, Herminie added:
"When I say that, I don't really mean it. My room is really very unpretentious."
But Ernestine understood Herminie's disposition and character pretty well already, so she said, smiling:
"Be honest, Herminie."
"About what?"
"Your room is charming, and you only retracted your words because you thought I would feel badly because I hadn't a room as pretty as yours."