The news had surprised her to a degree she could
not account for. Her first thought was, how fortunate for her
brother that Pierre had returned; her second, how agreeable to
herself. Why? She could not think why: she wilfully drew an
inference away from the truth that lay in her heart--it was wholly
for the sake of her brother she rejoiced in the return of his friend
and preserver. Her heart beat a little faster than usual--that was
the result of her long walk and disappointment at not meeting Le
Gardeur on her arrival yesterday. But she feared to explore her
thoughts: a rigid self-examination might discover what she
instinctively felt was deeply concealed there.
A subtile, indefinable prevision had suggested to her that Colonel
Philibert would not have failed to meet Le Gardeur at Beaumanoir,
and that he would undoubtedly accompany her brother on his return
and call to pay his respects to the Lady de Tilly and--to herself.
She felt her cheek glow at the thought, yet she was half vexed at
her own foolish fancy, as she called it.
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