Page:In a winter city, by Ouida.djvu/297

 "I suppose you want to be an Empress?"

"Oh dear no," answered his sister. "I have known two Empresses intimately; and it is a career of great tedium: you can never do what you like."

"Then, I suppose, you are content as you are?"

"I suppose so, if anybody ever is. I don't think anyone is. I never met anybody who was. They say pigs are; but one sees so little of pigs that one can't make much psychological study of them."

Lord Clairvaux grumbled, sighed, and took his courage à deux mains.

"Well, never mind the other men; they are past and gone, poor wretches; what do you mean to do about this one?"

"This what?" said Lady Hilda, looking languidly at him through the flowers on the breakfast table. She knew quite well what he meant.

"What do you mean to do with him?" repeated Lord Clairvaux solemnly, pushing his plate away. "It's all very pretty, I daresay.