“Wait! From these qualities, she said, came hurry, mistakes innumerable, heroic devotion to objects that were worthless, much weakness, tremendous disappointments.”
Hermione said nothing, but sat still looking grave.
“Well? Don’t you recognize something of yourself in the catalogue, my friend?”
“Have I a great facility for illusions? Am I capable of heroic devotion to worthless objects?”
Suddenly Artois remembered all he knew and she did not know.
“At least you act hastily often,” he said evasively. “And I think you are often so concentrated upon the person who stands, perhaps suffering, immediately before you, that you forget who is on the right, who is on the left.”
“Emile, I asked your advice yesterday, and you would not give it me.”
“A fair hit!” he said. “And so Peppina is here. How did the servants receive her?”
“I think they were rather surprised. Of course they don’t know the truth.”
“They will within—shall we say twenty-four hours, or less?”