Page:The Eyes of Innocence.djvu/136

132 this charm of manner. It made her neglect the artificial plan of conduct which she had arranged to captivate the girl: she forgot to conceal her faults, she even became natural and spontaneous.

One day, after something that Gilberte had said, with a sudden movement she drew the girl to her:

"Oh, my darling, what a treasure of a wife you would make!"

Gilberte smiled:

"Indeed! How do I know that you would have me for a daughter! ... However, we shall soon see ... perhaps to-morrow ..."

"To-morrow?"

"Why, of course! Isn't this the day when Guillaume is coming to the trysting-place where I wait for him every day?"

"Guillaume? I had a letter from him this morning from Paris. Besides, I know him; when he has made up his mind ..."

Gilberte looked at her watch:

"Five o'clock. Suppose he were there