enne was not likely
to marry, her birth raising her above all intentions of connecting her
ancient name with mere gold, while her poverty placed an almost
insuperable barrier between her and most of the impoverished young men
of rank whom she occasionally saw. Even the power of the dauphine was
not sufficient to provide Adrienne de la Rocheaimard with a suitable
husband. But of this the charming girl never thought; she lived more
for her grandmother than for herself, and so long as that venerated
relative, almost the only one that remained to her on earth, did not
suffer or repine, she herself could be comparatively happy.

"Dans le bon vieux temps," said the vicomtesse, examining me through
her spectacles, and addressing Georges, who stood, hat in hand, to
hearken to her wisdom; "dans le bon vieux temps, mon ami, the ladies of
the chateau did not want for these things. There were six dozen in my
corbeille, that were almost as fine as this; as for the trousseau, I
believe it had twice the number, but very little inferior."

{dans de bon vieux temps = in the good old days; corbeille = wedding
presents from a bridegroom; trousseau = wedding outfit}

"I remember that madame," Georges always gave his old mistress this
title of honor, "kept many of the beautiful garments of her trousseau
untouched, down to the melancholy period of the revolution."

"It has been a mine of wealth to me, Georges, in behalf of that dear
child. You may remember that this trousseau was kept in the old
armoire, on the right hand side of the little door of my
dressing-room--"

{armoire = cupboard or closet}

"Madame la Vicomtesse will have the goodness to pardon me--it was on
the LEFT hand side of the room--Monsieur's medals were kept in the
opposite armoire."

"Our good Georges is right, Adrienne!--he has a memory! Your
grandfather insisted on keeping his medals in my dressing-room, as he
says. Well, Monsieur Georges, left or right, THERE I left the remains
of my trousseau when I fled from France, and there I found it untouched
on my return. The manufactory had saved the chateau, and the
manufacturers had spared my wardrobe. Its sale, and its materials, have
done much toward rendering that dear child respectable and well clad,
since our return."

I thought the slight color which usually adorned the fair oval cheeks
of Adrienne deepened a little at this remark, and I certainly felt a
little tremor in the hand which held me; but it could no