" He kissed her and
departed for the city, leaving her in the ball-room by the side of
the Lady de Tilly.
Amelie related to her aunt the result of her conversation with Le
Gardeur, and the cause of his leaving the fete so abruptly. The
Lady de Tilly listened with surprise and distress. "To think," said
she, "of Le Gardeur asking that terrible girl to marry him! My only
hope is, she will refuse him. And if it be as I hear, I think she
will!"
"It would be the ruin of Le Gardeur if she did, aunt! You cannot
think how determined he is on this marriage."
"It would be his ruin if she accepted him!" replied the Lady de
Tilly. "With any other woman Le Gardeur might have a fair chance of
happiness; but none with her! More than one of her lovers lies in a
bloody grave by reason of her coquetries. She has ruined every man
whom she has flattered into loving her. She is without affection.
Her thoughts are covered with a veil of deceit impenetrable. She
would sacrifice the whole world to her vanity. I fear, Amelie, she
will sacrifice Le Gardeur as ruthlessly as the most worthless of her
admirers.
Pages:
420
421
422
423
424
425
426
427
428
429
430
431
432
433
434
435
436
437
438
439
440
441
442
443
444