Moths by Ouida — page 107: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

- MOTHS. 108 ici and they chilled even the worldly breast of her mother’s riend. There was an accent in them which told of a childhood perish- ed in a night—of an innocence and a faith stabbed, and stricken, and buried forevermore. ‘*You are only sixteen, and you will never be young any more!” thought Princess Nelaguine, hearing the cold and bitter accent of those pregnant words. But the ladies that made the eighteenth-century picture had broken up and issued from the alcove, and were offering con- gratulations and compliments in honeyed phrases; and no one ~ heeded or had time for serious thought. Only Lady Dolly, in a passionate murmur, cried, unheeded by any, in her daughter’s ear: | ‘*For heaven’s sake, smile, blush, seem happy! What will they say of you to look at you like this?—they will say that I coerce ou!” | ‘*T do my best,” answered Vere, coldly. ‘*My lovety mother-in-law,” muttered Prince Zouroff, bending to Lady Dolly, as he brought her a cup of tea, ‘* certainly you did not lie to me this morning when you told me that your Vere would marry me; but did you not lie—just a little lie, a little white one—when you said she would love me?” ‘* Love comes in time,” murmured Lady Dolly, hurriedly. Sergius Zouroff laughed grimly. ‘‘Does it? I fear that experience tells one rather that with time—it goes.” a Yours may; hers will come: the woman’s always comes st.” ‘* Ma chere, your new theories are astounding. Nevertheless, as your son-in-law, I will give in my adhesion to them. Hence- forth all the sex of your Vere—and yourself—is purity and per- fection in my sight!” Lady Dolly smiled sweetly in his face. ‘‘It is never too late to be converted to the truth,” she said, playfully, whilst she thought, ‘‘Oh, you beast! If I could strangle you!” Meanwhile Princess Nelaguine was saying, with kindness in her tone and gaze: ‘“My sweet child, you look chilly and pale. Were you wise to leave your room out of goodness to us?” ‘‘T am cold,” murmured Vere, faintly.. ‘‘ JI should be glad if I might go away—for a little.” ‘‘Tmpossible,” said the princess; and added, ‘‘ Dear, reflect: it will look so strange to people. My brother——” | ‘‘T will stay, then,” said Vere, wearily: and she sat down, and received the homage of one and the felicitations of another, still with her eyes always cast downward, still with her young faee passioniess and chill as a mask of marble, : ‘‘ An hour’s martyrdom more or less—did it matter?” she said to herself. All her life would be a martyrdom, a long mute martyrdom, now. A few hours later her maid dressed her for the ball. She had COmMIc ,00KS (Ge)