aspect they are viewed. But I need say no more to you on this point.

"I fancy you are of a jealous disposition, and, my dear, if you knew
how jealous I am! But you must not be stupid over it. To publish your
jealousy to the world is like playing at politics with your cards upon
the table, and those who let their own game be seen learn nothing
of their opponents'. Whatever happens, we must know how to suffer in
silence."

She added that she intended having some plain talk about me with Macumer
the evening before the wedding.

Raising my mother's beautiful arm, I kissed her hand and dropped on it
a tear, which the tone of real feeling in her voice had brought to my
eyes. In the advice she had given me, I read high principle worthy of
herself and of me, true wisdom, and a tenderness of heart unspoilt by
the narrow code of society. Above all, I saw that she understood my
character. These few simple words summed up the lessons which life and
experience had brought her, perhaps at a heavy price. She was moved, and
said, as she looked at me:

"Dear little girl, you've got a nasty crossing before you. And most
women, in their ignorance or their disenchantment, are as wise as the
Earl of Westmoreland!"

We both laughed; but I must explain the joke. The evening before, a
Russian princess had told us an anecdote of this gentleman. He had
suffered frightfully from sea-sickness in crossing the Channel, and
turned tail when he got near Italy, because he had heard some one speak
of "crossing" the Alps. "Thank you; I've had quite enough crossings
already," he said.

You will understand, Renee, that your gloomy philosophy and my mother's
lecture were calculated to revive the fears which used to disturb us at
Blois. The nearer marriage approached, the more did I need to summon
all my strength, my resolution, and my affection to face this terrible
passage from maidenhood to womanhood. All our conversations came back to
my mind, I re-read your letters and discerned in them a vague undertone
of sadness.

This anxiety had one advantage at least; it helped me to the regulation
expression for a bride as commonly depicted. The consequence was that
on the day of signing the contract everybody said I looked charming and
quite the right thing. This morning, at the Mairie, it was an informal
business, and only the witnesses were present.

I am writing this tail to my letter while they are putting out my
dress for dinner. We shall be marr