Moths by Ouida — page 202: what you’re looking at

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

all.” * ’ ’ ‘ ee j aa ’ . | \ iv { My ' / ( ' ; 4 ‘ : - - : : ust a é : P id j uy : : R ' ‘ / Ail ¢ .) 4 Ly t P ’ ee : 4 ‘ y's ay Th tof) wy yee ‘ an i” vy ' - ee ii. ate tat | : : ras, ee yet el UA AE oe 4 ; avy | f } : . A the ” a Fe - f '? j ’ 4 : oh « 4 : al / oy"; ‘ - . J fd Ad WH iu? ' : (a P ie ye. ‘Te iad tu, 4) whe hb ies A) al TA od Te Ow oF i VeT At OS A ae er ne MAST, ne Oe oe rs pv ‘7 ww pound dy a} Bylot aT) 198 MOTHS have it so. She thought “they would attract. So they will; and | it is nomore than having their carriages next yours in the Bois.” ‘‘Or our lovers and brothers and husbands in thew dressing- rooms,” thought Madame Nelaguine. »‘‘ You are not very just, _ Sergius,” she said, aloud. ‘‘ Jeanne may have a will of her own, Noisette may have one, anybody; but not Vera.” ‘* Vera is my wife,” said Prince Zouroff. To him it seemed as clear as day that all the difference between — these women was thus expressed. ‘‘You are quite resolved, then,” she said, with some hesita- tion, ‘‘not to see any justice in this objection of Vera’s, not to give in to it, not to contrive in some way to secure the absence of Mademoiselle Noisette to-morrow?’ ‘‘ Nadine Nicolaiwna!” cried her brother, in wrath. ‘‘ After forty years that we have been in this world, do you know me so little that you want to ask such a thing? After Vera’s insolence I would drag Noisette to that pavilion to-morrow if she were dying!” © Will you drag your wife?” said Madame Nadine, with a little _ disgust;\but Zouroff had left her, and was on his way to the smoke ing-room., ) | ‘“‘He is nothing but a spoilt child grown big and brutal,” thought his sister, with a little shrug of her shoulders. ‘‘ Howl! wish he had married a diablesse like Jeanne!” | An hour later, when the ladies all went to their rooms, Madame Nelaguine asked entrance for a moment at Vere’s door, and with- out beating about the bush, said simply— ‘‘My dear, Sergius has asked me to speak to you about the Kermesse to-morrow. Now I think I know all that actuates you, and I will admit that my own feeling is quite with you; but it is too late now to alter anything: Sergius is obstinate, as you know —especially obstinate if he fancy his will is disputed. This ob- jection of yours can only lead to scenes, to disputes, to differ. ences, very trying, very usezess, and—worst of all—very divert- ing to others. Will you not abandon the point? It is not you wir the presence of this person at the fair will shame, but him- se 59 ' _ Vere heard quite patiently; her maid, who did not understand English, which Madame Nelaguine, like most Russians, spoke admirably, was brushing out her thick bright hair. ‘*It was my fault not to attend more to the details of the thing,” she answered; ‘‘ but I had heard nothing of Mademoiselle Noisette being permitted in the park. It is your brother’s shame, certainly; but if I submitted to so public an insult as that, I a — — NS ~" - - > me, zs» ~ a ae wie 22. - . -" < —- ..” ~~ es. f ' \, tae should be, I think, scarcely higher than Mademoiselle Noisette. herself. We will not talk about it; it is of no use: only, unless you can tell me that her name and her flag are withdrawn from the pavilions, I do not stir from here to-morrow. That is “ AhY? ejaculated Madame Nadine, very wearily. ‘* My dear, have you any conception of what Sergius can be, can do, when he | is crossed? Believe me, Iam not defending him for an instant; ho one could; but I have seen twice as long a life as you have J “biel IAPR ARALA Les vag ‘ if r 2 ad , > ‘ ae b ATH * ’ ae PEW). Wane un! (all dae Lhe ahha