do--won't it? Listen. I'm just eighteen. I was sent to the Soeurs
Blanches when I was thirteen--the year papa died. I _didn't_ like
papa--I'm very sorry, but I didn't! However, that's by-the-way. In all
those years I have only seen maman once--she doesn't like children. But
my aunt Grosville has some French relations--very, _very_ 'comme il
faut,' you understand--and I used to go and stay with them for the
holidays. Tell me!--did you ever hunt in France?"

"Never," said Ashe, startled and amused by the sudden glance of
enthusiasm that lit up the face and expressed itself in the clasped
hands.

"Oh! it's such heaven," she said, lifting her shoulders with an
extravagant gesture--"such _heaven_! First there are the old
dresses--the men look such darlings!--and then the horns, and the old
ways they have--_si noble!--si distingué!_--not like your stupid English
hunting. And then the dogs! Ah! the _dogs_"--the shoulders went higher
still; "do you know my cousin Henri actually gave me a puppy of the
great breed--_the_ breed, you know--the Dogs of St. Hubert. Or at least
he _would_ if maman would have let me bring it over. And she wouldn't!
Just think of that! When there are thousands of people in France who'd
give the eyes out of their head for one. I cried all one
night--Allons!--faut pas y penser!"--she shook back the hair from her
eyes with an impatient gesture. "My cousins have got a château, you
know, in the Seine-et-Oise. They've promised to ask me next year--when
the Grand-Duke Paul comes--if I'll promise to behave. You see, I'm not a
bit like French girls--I had so many affairs!"

Her eyes flashed with laughter.