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203 THE PORTRAIT OF A LADY. 203 tacles. " I am so red myself. They will comfort us on our way back to Rome." " Ah, they won't last," cried the young girl. " I wish I could give you something that would last ! " " You have given us a good memory of yourself, my daughter. That will last!" " I wish nuns could wear pretty things. I would give you my blue beads," the child went on. " And do you go back to Home to-night 1 " her father asked. "Yes, we take the train again. We have so much to do Id-bas." "Are you not tired?" " We are never tired." " Ah, my sister, sometimes," murmured the junior votaress. " Not to-day, at any rate. We have rested too well here. Que Dieu vous garde, ma fille" Their host, while they exchanged kisses with his daughter, went forward to open the door through which they were to pass ; but as he did so he gave a slight exclamation, and stood looking beyond. The door opened into a vaulted ante-chamber, as high as a chapel, and paved with red tiles ; and into this ante-chamber a lady had just been admitted by a servant, a lad in shabby livery, who was now ushering her toward the apart- ment in which our friends were grouped. The gentleman at the door, after dropping his exclamation, remained silent; in silence, too, the lady advanced. He gave her no further audible greeting, and offered her no hand, but stood aside to let her pass into the drawing-room. At the threshold she hesitated. " Is there any one 1 " she asked. " Some one you may see." She went in, and found herself confronted with the two nuns and their pupil, who was coming forward between them, with a hand in the arm of each. At the sight of the new visitor they all paused, and the lady, who had stopped too, stood looking at them. The young girl gave a little soft cry " Ah, Madame Merle ! " The visitor had been slightly startled ; but her manner the next instant was none the less gracious. " Yes, it's Madame Merle, come to welcome you home." And she held out two hands to the girl, who immediately came up to her, presenting her forehead to be kissed. Madame Merle saluted this portion of her charming little person, and then stood smiling at the two nuns. They acknowledged her smile with a decent obeisance, but permitted themselves no direct