Page:The Czar, A Tale of the Time of the First Napleon.djvu/371

Rh "I am holding out my hand to the Lord Jesus, and he will not take it," was the answer.

"That is only because his arms are around you already, dear little one," she said. She added many loving words, to which Clémence as well as Stéphanie listened with deep interest. At length she kissed a farewell to her little pupil, in whose eyes a happy light had begun to shine. "I am ready to go now," said Stéphanie, putting her hand in that of Clémence.

It was late when they reached home. Madame de Salgues and Madame de Talmont were beginning to grow uneasy, and Henri had just volunteered to go in search of the wanderers. They were warmly welcomed; and, as had been already arranged, Stéphanie remained to spend the rest of the day with her friends.

While Madame de Talmont asked Clémence many questions about the meeting, Emile opened a fire of banter upon Stéphanie, about the effect her dress and appearance had produced upon the assembly, and especially upon the Czar, "The very least I expected of his Imperial Majesty," he said, "was to send an aide-de-camp to inquire who was the charming young lady in pink and green silk."

But Stéphanie did not reply with her usual saucy readiness; and Henri, noticing her agitation, quickly came to her relief, making some commonplace inquiry about the numbers who were present.

"Ah, I see what is the matter," said Emile: "the Czar was not there after all. Very unlike him, to disappoint so many young ladies."

Stéphanie gave the surprising answer, "I do not know if he was there. I never thought of him at all."

Then Clémence drew her gently away to her own room, leaving her there in quiet until supper was ready. As she went