A beautifully majestic, ermined figure stepped graciously out of the church, as La Frochard rejoined Louise and began whining: “Charity! In the name of God, Charity!” whilst the girl’s voice lifted up in an old plaintive melody.
The lady was the Countess de Linieres, returning from her devotions.
The song evoked memories of a bitter past and of a long lost daughter snatched from her in infancy. Bending over poor Louise, she asked: “My child, can you not see me?”
“No, Madame, I am blind,” was the low, sad answer.
MARQUIS DE PRAILLE PLYING HIS ART WITH THE LADIES.
A strange sympathy stirred in the Countess for this girl. There seemed to be some hidden link between them, the nature of which baffled her. She felt the impulse to protect and cherish––was it the voice of Mother Love obscurely speaking?
“Alas!” said Louise. “Blindness is not the worst of my misfortunes. I––I––”