“Nothing is settled, believe me, Mélanie. But then the world is talking of it.”
“Of nothing else. Who occupy London so much as your family, miladi? The Duchesse of Wiltshire, when I go to her, say to me, ‘Mélanie, tell me all about that bootiful Miladi Coques and her bootiful family. None so bootiful as the mother.’”
At this moment the door admitted Florence and Constance.
Mélanie rose in admiration.
“What bootiful colour! What roses in cheeks.”
The girls acknowledged her salute, and the rose left the cheek of Constance.
Mélanie whispered Lady Coxe, “I will make for Mademoiselle Constance bootiful dress like used to wear La Dulaugier—the Comte’s own choice.”
“Mélanie is come to take orders for Lady Ilminster’s dejooner.”
“I shall have a very simple dress,” said Florence.
“And so shall I,” chimed in Constance, in a voice low and tremulous.