her of a parent to whom
she had been truly attached; they reminded her of her young days. She observed,
too, that Caroline listened with naïve interest; this augmented her good-humour;
and the exclamation at the close of the song, »I wish I could sing and play like
Hortense!« achieved the business, and rendered her charming for the evening.
    It is true, a little lecture to Caroline followed, on the vanity of wishing,
and the duty of trying. »As Rome,« it was suggested, »had not been built in a
day, so neither had Mademoiselle Gérard Moore's education been completed in a
week, or by merely wishing to be clever. It was effort that had accomplished
that great work: she was ever remarkable for her perseverance, for her industry:
her masters had remarked that it was as delightful as it was uncommon to find so
much talent united with so much solidity, and so on.« Once on the theme of her
own merits, Mademoiselle was fluent.
    Cradled at last in blissful self-complacency, she took her knitting and sat
down tranquil. Drawn curtains, a clear fire, a softly shining lamp, gave now to
the little parlour its best - its evening charm. It is probable that the three
there present felt this charm: they all looked happy.
    »What shall we do now, Caroline?« asked Mr. Moore, returning to his seat
beside his cousin.
    »What shall we do, Robert?« repeated she playfully. »You decide.«
    »Not play at chess?«
    »No.«
    »Nor draughts, nor backgammon?«
    »No - no; we both hate silent games that only keep one's hands employed,
don't we?«
    »I believe we do: then, shall we talk scandal?«
    »About whom? Are we sufficiently interested in anybody to take a pleasure in
pulling their character to pieces?«
    »A question that comes to the point. For my part - unamiable as it sounds -
I must say, no.«
    »And I, too. But it is strange - though we want no third - fourth, I mean
(she hastily and with contrition glanced at Hortense), living person among us -
so selfish we are in our happiness - though we don't want to think of the
present existing world, it would be pleasant to go back to the past; to hear
people that have slept for generations in graves that are perhaps no longer
graves now, but gardens and fields,