Mrs. Thompson may, perhaps, have thought that, at the present
moment, audacity was not his fault. She replied, however, that she
was quite sure that monsieur would say nothing that was in any way
unbecoming either for him to speak or for her to hear.

"Madame, may I have ground to hope that such may be your sentiments
after I have spoken! Madame"--and now he went down, absolutely on
his knees, on the hard stones; and Mrs. Thompson, looking about into
the distance, almost thought that she saw the top of the guide's
cap--"Madame, I have looked forward to this opportunity as one in
which I may declare for you the greatest passion that I have ever
yet felt. Madame, with all my heart and soul I love you. Madame, I
offer to you the homage of my heart, my hand, the happiness of my
life, and all that I possess in this world;" and then, taking her
hand gracefully between his gloves, he pressed his lips against the
tips of her fingers.

If the thing was to be done, this way of doing it was, perhaps, as
good as any other. It was one, at any rate, which left no doubt
whatever as to the gentleman's intentions. Mrs. Thompson, could she
have had her own way, would not have allowed her lover of fifty to
go down upon his knees, and would have spared him much of the
romance of his declaration. So also would she have spared him his
yellow gloves and his polished boots. But these were a part of the
necessity of the situation, and therefore she wisely took them as
matters to be passed over with indifference. Seeing, however, that
M. Lacordaire still remained on his knees, it was necessary that she
should take some step toward raising him, especially as her two
children and the guide would infallibly be upon them before long.