Moths by Ouida — page 46: what you’re looking at

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

a: Y) MOTHS. Vere looked at her stephanotis and orchids, and her young face grew almost stern. ‘Tf you mean I did anything wrong, I did no wrong. It was all accident, and no one could have been so kind as—he—was.”’ The ear of Lady Dolly, quick at such signs, caught the little peuse before the pronoun. : ‘“The world never believes in accidents,” she said, chillily. ‘You had better understand that for the future. To be seen coming home in a boat early in the morning all alone with such a man as Correze would be enough to ruin any girl at the outset of her life,—to ruin her!” Vere’s eyes opened in bewildered surprise. She could not follow her mother’s thoughts at all, nor could she see where sha had been in any error. ‘‘ Correze, of all men upon earth!” echoed her mother. ‘‘ Good heavens! do you know he is a singer?” ‘‘ Yes,” said Vere, softly, hearing all around her as she svoke the sweet liquid melody of that perfect voice which had called the skylark ‘‘a little brother.” “* A great singer, I grant, greatest, if you like, but still a singer, and a man with a hundred love affairs in every capital he entersf And to come home alone with sucha man after hours spent alone with him. It was madness, Vere; and it was worse, it was fors- ward, impudent, unmaidenly!”’ The girl’s pale face flushed; she lifted her head with a certain indignant pride. ‘“You must say what you will, mother,” she said, quietly. ‘‘ But that 1s very untrue.” ‘““Den’t dare to answer me,” said Lady Dotly, ‘‘I tell you. it was disgraceful, and goodness knows how ever I shall explain it away. Helene has been telling the story to everybody, and given it seven-leagued boots already. True! who cares what is true or what is not true; it is what a thitig looks! I believe everybody _ pays you had come from Havre with Correze}”’ Vere stood silent and passive, her eyes on her stephanotis and orchids, . ‘‘ Where did you get these extravagant flowers? Surely Jack never——’”’ said Lady Dolly, suspiciously. ‘He brought them,” answered Vere. ‘*Correze? Whilst I was away?” ‘* Yes. He spoke to me at the balcony.” ‘‘ Well, my dear, you do Bulmer credit! No Spanish or Italian heroine out of his own operas could conduct herself 1aore auda- ciously on the first day of her liberty. It is certainly what I al- ways thought would come of your grandmother’s mode of edu- cation. Well, go up-stairs in your bedroom and do not leave it | until I send for you. No, you can’t take flowers up-stairs; they or very. unwholesome—as unwholesome as the kindness of orreze.’ Vere went, wistfully regarding her treasures; but she had kept - the faded rose and the lavender in her hand unnoticed. ‘After all, I care most for these,” she thought,—the homely sea-born things that had been gathered after the songs, __ . ¥ Yeomicbooks co