Ireallyfeltalittledisconcerted, butIregainedmyself-possession, andasked:
"Whereisshenow?"
"ShehasgonetoPariswithapainter, adelightfulman, wholovesherverymuch, ; theyareverypretty, aretheynot?"
Andsheshowedme, withquiteSouthernanimation, herheavybraceletsandnecklace."Ihavealso," shecontinued, "earringswithstonesinthem, asilkdress, andsomerings; ! sheisveryhappy, Sir, , surely?"
ButIrefused, asInowwishedtogetawaybythefirsttrain; butshetookmebythearmandpulledmein, saying:
"Please, comein; Imusttellherthatyouhavebeeninhere."
Ifoundmyselfinasmall, ratherdarkroom, furnishedwithonlyatableandafewchairs.
Shecontinued: "O! Sheisveryhappynow, , forherloverhadjustleftheratMarseilles, andshewascomingback, , thoughshewasstillrathersad, , , , ?—, thisyear?"
"Yes," Isaid, "quitealone."
Ifeltanincreasinginclinationtolaugh, , however, todrinkaglassofhersyrup.
"Soyouarequitealone?" shecontinued."HowsorryIamthatFrancescaisnotherenow; , andshewillbeverysorryalso."
Then, asIwasgettinguptogo, sheexclaimed:
"ButwouldyounotlikeCarlottatogowithyou? , Sir."
Nodoubtshetookmylookofsurpriseforconsent, forsheopenedtheinnerdoorandcalledoutupthedarkstairswhichIcouldnotsee:
"Carlotta! Carlotta! makehastedown, mydearchild."
Itriedtoprotest, butshewouldnotlisten.
"No; shewillbeverygladtogowithyou; sheisverynice, andmuchmorecheerfulthanhersister, andsheisagoodgirl, averygoodgirl, whomIloveverymuch."
