Moths by Ouida — page 95: what you’re looking at

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

MOTHS 91 and have all this, merely because you married early and married well. My dear, such a marriage is to a girl like being sent on the battle-field to a boy in the army; it is the baptism of fire with every decoration as its rewards !” ‘¢' The Cross, too?” said Vere. : Lady Stoat, who had spoken eloquently, and, in her own light, sincerely, was taken aback by the irony of the accent and the enigma of the smile. ‘‘A most strange child,” she thought; ‘‘no wonder she worries poor flighty little pussy !” ‘ine Cross? Oh, yes,” she said. ‘‘ What answers to the boy’s Iron Cross, I suppose, is to dance in the Quadrille d’Henmeur at Court. Princess Zouroff;: would always be in the Quadrille d’Honneur.” ‘* Princess Zouroff may be so. I shall not. And it was of the Cross you wear, and profess to worship, that I thought.” Lady Stoat felt a little embarrassed. She bowed her head, and touched the Iona cross in jewels that hung at her throat. ‘* Darling, those are serious and solemn words. A great mar- riage may be made subservient, like any other action of our lives, . to God’s service.” ‘* But surely one ought to love to marry?” ‘‘My dear child, that is an idea; love is an idea; it doesn’t last, you know; it is fancy; what is needful is solid esteem——” Lady Stoat paused; even to her it was difficult to speak of solid esteem for Sergius Zouroff. She took up another and safer line of argument. ‘‘ You must learn to understand, my sweet Vere, that life is prose, not poetry; Heaven forbid that I should be one to urge you to any sort of worldliness; but, still truth is everything; truth compels me to point out to you that, in the age we live in, a great position means vast power and ability of doing good, and that is not a thing to be slighted by any wise woman who would make her life beautiful and useful. Prince Zouroff adores you; he can give you one of the first positions in Europe; your mother, who loves you tenderly, though she may seem negligent, desires such a marriage for you beyond all others. Opposition on your art is foolishness, my child, foolishness, blindness, and rebel- on.” The face of Vere, as she listened, lost its childish softness, and grew very cold. ‘‘T understand; my mother does not want me, Mr. Vander- decken does not want me; this Russian prince is the first who asks for me: so I am to be sold because he is rich. I will not be sold!” ‘‘What exaggerated language, my love. Pray do not exag- gerate; no one uses inflated language now; even on the stage they don’t: it has gone out. Whospeaks of your being sold as if you were a slave? Quelle idee! A brilliant, a magnificent, alliance is open to you, that is all; every unmarried woman in society will envy you. ILassure you, if Prince Zouroff had solicited the hand of my own daughter, I would have given it to him with content and joy.” - J] have no doubt you would,” said the girl, curtly. (eco) comicbooks