Addie went upstairs to get ready; and Constance suddenly took Mathilde in her arms.
"My dear...."
"Mamma...."
"You did well to speak out to me just now.... However sad it made me feel, you did right."
"Oh, why did I do it? I should have done better to hold my tongue."
"No, no. Speak, oh, do speak to Addie too!"
"I have spoken to him so often!"
"Not lately?"
Mathilde shrugged her shoulders:
"No, not so often lately. What's the use? It's not his fault ... it's six of one and half a dozen of the other ... and it can't be helped."