The Countess, who had never for a moment imagined such an answer to her question, was surprised, and she showed plainly that grief was mingled with her surprise.
“And you would make such a woman your wife?” she asked reproachfully.
“Do not judge her until you have seen her,” entreated the Chevalier. “Consent to see her, and then advise me.”
The young man took the Countess’s hands in his, and looked imploringly into her face.
But his Aunt turned away from him with a gesture of sorrow.
“In such a marriage,” she said sadly, “there can be no happiness for you, and for her, only misery. Alas! I know too well the result of those unequal unions. You must renounce her. You owe obedience to your family and your King.” She burst into a flood of tears.
Diffidently the young man sought to comfort the Countess whose emotion seemed to have its spring in some hidden sorrow. He promised at last for her sake to consider again the horribly odious proposal of a State marriage, and drying her tears as well as he could, went his way, a victim of torn desires and intensest anguish....