"That is what she meant, I suppose, by speaking so artlessly of what she called your compassion, and mine."
"Poor child! She must have been very unkindly treated, and is still, perhaps, to make her so grateful for the slightest show of interest."
"Hers is certainly a very original character. You can't imagine what a strange question she asked me, imploring me to be perfectly frank all the while."
"No, I can not."
"Well, she asked me whether I thought her pretty or ugly."
"What a strange child! And what did you answer?"
"I told her the truth, as she insisted."
"What! M. Olivier, did you really tell her that she wasn't pretty?"
"I certainly did, adding, however,—and that, too, was the truth,—that she had such a frank and gentle manner that it made one quite forget that she was not pretty."
"Great heavens! M. Olivier," cried Herminie, almost in affright, "that wasn't a pleasant thing for her to hear. And she did not seem hurt?"