Page:In a winter city, by Ouida.djvu/200

Rh The Duc laid his hat aside; his delicate features were puckered, weary, and troubled.

"Mais, Madame, pardon!—mais vous avez toutes dit les choses les plus affeuses!"

"Women always do, Duc, when they are in a passion," said Lady Hilda. "There is nothing like a scene for discovering our real opinions of one another. Why! you look actually—worried! I thought nothing ever ruffled you by any chance whatever."

"Madame," said M. de St. Louis, stretching himself, with a sigh, in a low chair beside her and the fire, "I have always sedulously cultivated serenity. I believe serenity to be the whole secret of human health, happiness, longevity, good taste, sound judgment, everything in point of fact that is desirable in the life of a human being. But, alas! we are all mortal, and our best plans are but finite. In an evil moment, when Pandora's box was packed, there was put in with it by the malice of Mercury a detonating powder, called Amateur Rivalry. When all the other discords were dispersed, this shot itself into the loveliest forms and the gentlest bosoms; and