If you only ask me, Gordon would be too
delighted. He would n't have to trouble about me any more. He could go
and live over in the Latin Quarter--that 's the desire of his heart--and
think of nothing but old bottles. I know it is n't very good manners
to beg for an invitation," Blanche went on, smiling with a gentler
radiance; "but when it 's a question of one's health. One wants to keep
one's self alive--does n't one? One wants to keep one's self going. It
would be so good for me, Mrs. Vivian; it would really be very good for
me!"
She had turned round more and more to her hostess as she talked; and at
last she had given both her hands to Mrs. Vivian, and sat looking at her
with a singular mixture of earnestness and jocosity. It was hard to know
whether Blanche were expressing a real desire or a momentary caprice,
and whether this abrupt little petition were to be taken seriously, or
treated merely as a dramatic pose in a series of more or less effective
attitudes. Her smile had become almost a grimace, she was flushed, she
showed her pretty teeth; but there was a little passionate quiver in her
voice.
"My dear child," said Mrs. Vivian, "we should be delighted to have you
pay us a visit, and we should be so happy if we could do you any good.
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