"No, my dear; not at all. At least, I suppose not."

"Is his mother a queen?"

"No, my dear."

"Then his father must be a king?"

"No, my dear. It is quite a different thing here. Here in France
they have a great many princes."

"Well, at any rate I should like to see a prince's chateau; so I do
hope you'll go." And then there was a pause. "Mamma, could it come
to pass, here in France, that M. Lacordaire should ever be a
prince?"

"M. Lacordaire a prince! No; don't talk such nonsense, but mind
your work."

"Isn't M. Lacordaire a very nice man? Ain't you very fond of him?"

To this question Mrs. Thompson made no answer.

"Mamma," continued Mimmy, after a moment's pause, "won't you tell me
whether you are fond of M. Lacordaire? I'm quite sure of this,--
that he's very fond of you."

"What makes you think that?" asked Mrs. Thompson, who could not
bring herself to refrain from the question.