"What folly!" she exclaimed. "Clotilde is an old woman. I spoke to her about it quite seriously to-day."
"And what did she say, Mademoiselle?"
"She said that she found Yorke most entertaining. 'One must be amused,' were her words, and she made me feel very young with her worldly wisdom. 'We do not contemplate matrimony, Mam'selle, but Mr. Yorke and I both think there may be an affinity of spirit, regardless of difference in age'! I was amazed at her philosophical attitude."
"How did you reply to her, Mademoiselle?"
"She quite took my breath away, but I only said, 'Clotilde, you will oblige me by seeing as little as possible of Yorke on the remainder of the trip.' I had fully intended to keep her with me this evening, and now she has slipped away. I think I ought to go and find her," half rising as she spoke.
"By no means," I answered quickly. "Indeed, I am quite on Clotilde's side."
"On Clotilde's side! Impossible, Monsieur! Such arrant nonsense!"
All this time I had been standing, for from a maidenly shyness (rather new in her, and which I liked) she would not ask me to sit beside her, and there was no other seat. Now I said:
"Mademoiselle, if you will permit me to share your bundle of pelts, I believe I can prove to you that it is not such arrant nonsense, after all."
"Certainly, Monsieur," a little stiffly; "I am sorry to have kept you standing so long."