"Lilian can write for herself; can she not?"

"Oh yes; I suppose she can; but I hope M. Lacordaire will write too.
We shall come back here some day; shan't we, mamma?"

"I cannot say, my dear."

"I do so hope we shall see M. Lacordaire again. Do you know what I
was thinking, mamma?"

"Little girls like you ought not to think," said Mrs. Thompson,
walking slowly out of the room to the top of the stairs and back
again; for she had felt the necessity of preventing Mimmy from
disclosing any more of her thoughts. "And now, my dear, get
yourself ready, and we will go up to the school."

Mrs. Thompson always dressed herself with care, though not in
especially fine clothes, before she went down to dinner at the table
d'hote; but on this occasion she was more than usually particular.
She hardly explained to herself why she did this; but, nevertheless,
as she stood before the glass, she did in a certain manner feel that
the circumstances of her future life might perhaps depend on what
might be said and done that evening. She had not absolutely decided
whether or no she would go to the Prince's chateau; but if she did
go -. Well, if she did; what then? She had sense enough, as she
assured herself more than once, to regulate her own conduct with
propriety in any such emergency.

During the dinner, M. Lacordaire conversed in his usual manner, but