Whereupon she departed. So war was declared, and with Prussia. I was much moved. I was a French dress and a Bonapartist dress. I was afraid for France and afraid for the dynasty, but the words of the tall Guy were so perfectly reassuring.
For two months there was no news; but about the 10th of September the little baroness arrived with Hermance. She was very pale, poor little baroness—very pale and agitated.
"Dark dresses, Hermance," she said, "black dresses. I know! What remains of Aunt Pauline's mourning? There must remain quite a lot of things. You see, I am too sad—"
"But if madame expects to remain long in England?"
"Ah! as long as the Republic lasts."
"Then it may be a long time."
"What do you mean—a long time? What do you mean, Hermance? Who can tell you such things?"
"It seems to me that if I were madame I'd take for precaution's sake a few winter dresses, a few evening-dresses—"
"Evening-dresses! Why, what are you thinking of? I shall go nowhere, Hermance, alone in England, without my husband, who stays in Paris in the National Guard."
"But if madame should go to see their Majesties in England?"