“You cannot be as glad as I am,” she answered; and she took both my hands in one of hers and looked into my face, while tears rose to her bright, rather sunken eyes. “To think that he should take the trouble to write!”
I ran away. I did not want to be unkind, and truly did not mean to; but Augusta’s manner, notwithstanding the reform in her character, was almost past bearing.
“Poor, dear old father!” I said afterwards to Hermione, “he can little realise what a fearful responsibility he has in life—the whole of Augusta’s future—and just because he is a clever lecturer. I really cannot understand it.”
“Nor I,” said Hermione. “I myself think his speeches are rather dull; but I suppose I have a different order of mind.”
I remember quite well that on that occasion we girls were permitted to go for a delightful walk into the Bois de Boulogne. We went, of course, with some of the governesses; but when we got there we were allowed a certain amount of freedom—for instance, we could choose our own companions and walk with whom we pleased. We were just leaving the house on this occasion when Comtesse Riki came up to me and asked if I would walk with her. I acceded at once, although I had hoped for a long walk with Hermione, as I had received a budget of home news on that day, and I wanted to talk it over with her; last, but not least, there had come a voluminous letter from Lilian St. Leger. It was a little provoking, but Riki’s very pretty blue eyes, her pathetic mouth, and sweet smile conquered. At the same instant Baroness Elfreda flew up to Hermione and tucked her podgy hand inside the girl’s arm.
“I couldn’t walk with you, Dumps,” she said, “for a dumpy girl couldn’t walk with another dumpy girl—so I want to be your friend, a sweet, slight, graceful English girl.”
Hermione consented with what patience she could, and we started off on our walk. While we were in the town we had, of course, to walk two by two; but presently, in a special and rather retired part of the gardens, the governesses were less particular, and each couple was allowed to keep a little away from the other.
“Now, that’s a comfort,” said Riki. “I have so much I want to ask you.”
“What about?” I said.
“About your so delightful English ways. You have much of the freedom, have you not?”