CHAPTER X.
REVELATIONS.
While Madame de Beaumesnil was silently revolving in her mind the surest means of inducing Herminie to tell the story of her past life, the girl stood turning the pages of her music book, waiting for the countess to ask her to begin.
"You will think me very changeable, I fear, mademoiselle," said the countess, at last; "but if it is all the same to you, I would prefer to postpone the music until about ten o'clock. That is usually my worst time, though perhaps I shall escape it to-night. If I do not, I should regret having exhausted a resource which has so often relieved me. Nor is this all; after having admitted that I am whimsical, I fear that you will now accuse me of having entirely too much curiosity."
"And why, madame?"
"Come and seat yourself here beside me," said the countess, affectionately, "and tell me how it is that you who can not be more than seventeen or eighteen years of age—"
"Eighteen years and six months, madame la comtesse."
"Well, then, how it is that you are such an accomplished musician at your age?"
"Madame la comtesse judges me too flatteringly. I have always had a great love for music, and I had very little trouble in learning it."
"But who was your instructor? Where did you learn music?"
"I was taught in the school I attended, madame la comtesse."