Moths by Ouida — page 92: what you’re looking at

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

88 | MOTHS. ‘¢ To-morrow is the Prince’s ball at Felicite, I suppose you re- metraber ?” Vere gave a sign of assent. ‘‘That is the loveliest frock La Ferriere has sent you for it; if ou had any heart you would kiss me for such a gown; but you ‘ala none, you never will have any.” Vere was silent. : ‘‘T must speak to you seriously and for the last time here,” said her mother. ‘‘We go back to Felicite, and Sergius will want his answer. I can put him off no longer.” ‘* He has had it.” “How?” said Lady Dolly, forgetting for the moment the letter she had burned. ‘‘Oh, your letter? Of course he regard- ed it as a baby’s boutade; Iam sure it was badly worded enough. ‘He showed it you, then?” ‘¢- Yes, he showed itme. It hurt him, of course; but it did not change him,” said her mother, a little hurriedly. ‘‘ Men of his age are not so easily changed. I tell you once for all, Vere, that Ii shall come to you to-night for the last time for your final word, and I tell you that you must be seen at that ball to-morrow night as the fiancee of Zouroff. Iam quite resolute, and I will have no more shillyshallying or hesitation.” Vere’s face grew warm, and shethrew back her head with an eager gesture. ‘‘ Hesitation! I.have never hesitated for an instant. I tell you, mother, and I have told you a hundred times, I will noé marry Prince Zourofi.”’ ‘You will wear the new gown, and you shall have my pearls,” pursued her mother, as though she had not’ heard; ‘‘and I shall take care that when you are presented to his Royal Highness he shall know that you are already betrothed to Zouroff; it will be the best way to announce it netfement to the world. You will not wear my pearls again, for Zouroff has already ordered yours.” Vere started to her feet. ‘ ‘‘ And I will stamp them to pieces if he give them to me; and if you tell the Prince of Wales sucha thing of me I will tell him the truth and ask his help; he is always kind and good.” ‘‘The pearls are ordered,” said her mother, unmoved; ‘‘and you are really too silly for anything. The idea of making the poor prince a scene!—you have such a passion for scenes, and there is nothing such bad form. I shall come to you to-night, after dinner, and let me find you more reasonable.” With that Lady Dolly went out of the room, and out of the house, and went on the sea with her adorers, laughing lightly and singing naughty little chansons not ill. But her heart was not as light as her laugh, and bold little woman as she was when she had nerved herself to do wrong, her nerves troubled her as. she thought that the morrow was the last, the very last, day on shag ene could any longer procrastinate and dally with Sergius ouroff. . “J will go and talk to her,” said Lady Stoat, who had driven ; ' tee . 4 J : met r a a4 ray » 4 4 « « * eB ‘ ‘ com -, ie we - ' ty AA 4 OC eee Be wo Wa comicbooks