Bordereau's talk, a strange mocking lambency which must have been a part
of her adventurous youth and which had outlived passions and faculties.
Nonetheless I asked, "Wouldn't it be possible for you to come down
there yourself? Wouldn't it do you good to sit there in the shade,
in the sweet air?"

"Oh, sir, when I move out of this it won't be to sit in the air,
and I'm afraid that any that may be stirring around me won't
be particularly sweet! It will be a very dark shade indeed.
But that won't be just yet," Miss Bordereau continued cannily,
as if to correct any hopes that this courageous allusion to
the last receptacle of her mortality might lead me to entertain.
"I have sat here many a day and I have had enough of arbors in my time.
But I'm not afraid to wait till I'm called."

Miss Tita had expected some interesting talk, but perhaps she
found it less genial on her aunt's side (considering that I
had been sent for with a civil intention) than she had hoped.
As if to give the conversation a turn that would put
our companion in a light more favorable she said to me,
"Didn't I tell you the other night that she had sent me out?
You see that I can do what I like!"

"Do you pity her--do you teach her to pity herself?"
Miss Bordereau demanded before I had time to answer this appeal.
"She has a much easier life than I had when I was her age."

"You must remember that it has been quite open to me to think
you rather inhuman."