Page:In a winter city, by Ouida.djvu/395

 would have managed it at once with a conseil de famille. Maurice, you are screwing the top of that flacon on all wrong—do take more care! She will repent horribly, but she don't see it now. Of course if she had had to lose the jewels they would have brought her to reason. As it is she don't in the least realise the horrible thing that she's done;—not in the least, not in the least! And the idea of going to his villa to-day! So unusual you know;—so positively improper! So utterly contrary to all custom! When I said to her, too, that she wouldn't be able even to afford Worth, she laughed, and answered, that she would have one dress from him every year for old friendship's sake for the Palestrina vintage balls, and that he would be sure to embroider her the loveliest Bacchic symbolisms and put the cone of the thyrsus for buttons!—only fancy! She could actually jest about that! How miserable she will be in three months when she has come back to her senses; and how miserable she will make him!"

"Chère comtesse," said the Duc, taking up