"Yes," she replied, "in half mourning now--for poor mamma; it is nearly a year since she died...." and a shade crossed her face--"ah, there is papa!" she exclaimed, suddenly brightening, "we are always losing each other--our tastes are different--papa is old fashioned you know--quite behind the times ..."
Truyn greeted the general very heartily; Gabrielle stood looking from one to the other; little roguish dimples played in her cheeks, and at last she stood on tiptoe and whispered something to her father. At first he seemed doubtful, and it was not without a shade of embarrassment that he said:
"We are going on to the Hotel Bristol, where we are to breakfast with my sister. It will, I am sure, give her the greatest pleasure if you will join her party."
The general made some excuses--it was an intrusion, and so forth--but he allowed himself to be persuaded and drove off with them through the flowery and well-watered alleys of the Champs Elysées to the hotel in the Place Vendôme.
"Aunt Marie," said Gabrielle as she danced into the room, "guess who is here with us!"
"Ah, General!" said the princess warmly, "you are the right man in the right place."
But another figure caught his eye--a little way behind his hostess stood Zinka. The sorrow she had experienced had stamped its lines indelibly on her face; still, there was in her eyes a light of calm and assured happiness that blended very sweetly with the traces of past grief. The bright May-morning of her life had been brief and it was past, but there was so tender a charm in her face and manner that even Gabrielle, with the radiance of eighteen, could not vie with her.
Truyn went up to her and there was an awkward silence. Then Gabrielle began to laugh heartily.
"And cannot you guess, General?" she exclaimed.
"It is not yet announced to the world," Truyn stammered out, "but you have always taken such a kind interest ..." and he took Zinka's hand. The old man's face beamed--he positively hugged Zinka and shook hands vehemently with Truyn.