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272 "Do you hate him for that reason?"

"Don't I know what mamma says about him? He is not my own uncle, but married mamma's sister. Mamma detests him, she says he killed aunt Ginevra with unkindness: he looks like a bear. Such a dismal evening!" she went on. "I'll go no more to his big hotel. Fancy me walking into a room alone, and a great man fifty years old coming forwards, and after a few minutes' conversation actually turning his back upon me, and then abruptly going out of the room. Such odd ways! I daresay his conscience smote him, for they all say at home I am the picture of aunt Ginevra. Mamma often declares the likeness is quite ridiculous".

"Were you the only visitor?"

"The only visitor? Yes, then there was missy, my cousin: little spoiled, pampered thing".

"M. de Bassompierre has a daughter?"

"Yes, yes: don't tease one with questions. Oh dear! I am so tired".

She yawned. Throwing herself without ceremony on my bed, she added, "It seems mademoiselle was nearly crushed to a jelly in a hubbub at the theatre some weeks ago".

"Ah! indeed. And they live at a large hotel in the Rue Crécy?"

"Justement. How do you know?"

"I have been there".

"Oh, you have? Really! You go everywhere in these days. I suppose Mother Bretton took you. She and Esculapius have the entrée of the de Bassompierre apartments: it seems 'my son John' attended missy on the occasion of her accident—accident? Bah! All affectation! I don't think she was squeezed more than she richly deserves for her airs. And now there is quite an intimacy struck up; I heard something about 'Auld lang syne', and what not. Oh, how stupid they all were!"

"All! You said you were the only visitor".

"Did I? You see one forgets to particularize an old woman and her boy".

"Dr. and Mrs. Bretton were at M. de Bassompierre's this evening?"

"Aye, aye! as large as life; and missy played the hostess. What a conceited doll it is!"