dinner.

The most tedious time in the day to Mrs. Thompson were the two hours
after breakfast. At one o'clock she daily went to the school,
taking Mimmy, who for an hour or two shared her sister's lessons.
This and her little excursions about the place, and her shopping,
managed to make away with her afternoon. Then in the evening, she
generally saw something of M. Lacordaire. But those two hours after
breakfast were hard of killing.

On this occasion, when she gained her own room, she as usual placed
Mimmy on the sofa with a needle. Her custom then was to take up a
novel; but on this morning she sat herself down in her arm-chair,
and resting her head upon her hand and elbow, began to turn over
certain circumstances in her mind.

"Mamma," said Mimmy, "why won't you go with M. Lacordaire to that
place belonging to the prince? Prince--Polly something, wasn't it?"

"Mind your work, my dear," said Mrs. Thompson.

"But I do so wish you'd go, mamma. What was the prince's name?"

"Polignac."

"Mamma, ain't princes very great people?"

"Yes, my dear; sometimes."

"Is Prince Polly-nac like our Prince Alfred?"