"And did he look so pityingly as you describe, and bless me as I was
praying, unwitting of his presence?" repeated she, with a look that
searched the dame through and through.
"He did, my Lady; he looked, just then, as a man looks upon a woman
whom he really loves. I know how men look when they really love us
and when they only pretend to? No deceiving me!" added she. "When
I was the Charming Josephine--"
"Ave Maria!" said Caroline, crossing herself with deep devotion, not
heeding the dame's reminiscences of Lake Beauport. "Heaven has
heard my prayers! I can die happy!"
"Heaven forbid you should die at all, my Lady! You die? The
Intendant loves you. I see it in his face that he will never marry
Angelique des Meloises. He may indeed marry a great marchioness
with her lap full of gold and chateaux--that is, if the King
commands him: that is how the grand gentlemen of the Court marry.
They wed rank, and love beauty--the heart to one, the hand to
another. It would be my way too, were I a man and women so simple
as we all are.
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