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Rh them as a defect, she added, "But my mother had them before she was twenty; and gray hairs are quite an heirloom on my father's side."

When they reached the gates, the Queen desired her to notice the guard. "It is doubled to-day on your account; we have not so many usually."

"Nay," exclaimed the guest, "this is treating me like a foreign princess."

"Only in honour, not in affection," was the gracious answer.

On their arrival, Francesca could not resist an opportunity of expressing her astonishment to Madame de Mercœur. "I expected," whispered she, "the interview would be attended with such awkwardness, and made myself quite uncomfortable before with thinking how annoying it would be to both parties. Instead of that, nothing could be easier; and they seemed so glad to meet. But were they quite in earnest?"

"My dear Francesca," said the Duchesse, laughing, "there are some questions that were never meant to be asked, still less to be answered; and yours is one of the number."

They were all now assembled in the Queen's apartment, who, passing her fingers through Mademoiselle's hair, said, "It is very beautiful,