Page:In a winter city, by Ouida.djvu/208

Rh Duchesses in Europe only come to winter cities for play. He must know that."

"My dear Mila, how you do put yourself out about it," said the Lady Hilda. "Send ten thousand francs to the public charities—you may play all night long in the cafés then."

"Madame, j'ai l'honneur de vous saluer," murmured Della Rocca, bending low before her.

When the door had closed upon him and left the others behind, a sudden blankness and dullness seemed to fall on her: she had never felt the same thing before. Bored she had often been, but this was not ennui, it was a kind of loneliness—it was as if all about her grew grey and cold and stupid.

More ladies came in, there were endless laughter and chatter; Princess Olga wanted some tea, and had it; the other women cracked bon-bons with their little teeth like pretty squirrels cracking fir-cones; they made charming groups in the firelight and lamplight; they made plans for a hundred diversions; they were full of the gayest of scandals; they dissected in the most merciless manner all their absent friends; they