Narbonne seemed, however, full of apprehensions for her. M. de
Jaucourt seemed to have better hopes ; he, even he, has now
thoughts of returning, or rather his generosity compels him to
think of it. His father has represented to him that his sister's
fortune must suffer unless he appears in France again - and
although he had resisted every other consideration, on this he
has given way.


ARRIVAL OF M. DE LA CHATRE.

Friday, December 21st, we dined at Norbury Park, and met our
French friends: M. d'Arblay came in to coffee before the other
gentlemen. We had been talking of Madame de la
Page 40

Chattre, and conjecturing conjectures about her sposo: we were
all curious, and all inclined to imagine him old, ugly, proud,
aristocratic, -a kind of ancient and formal courtier ; so we
questioned M. d'Arblay, acknowledging our curiosity, and that we
wished to know, enfin, if M. de la Chƒtre was "digne d'etre ‚poux
d'une personne si aimable et si charmante que Madame de la
Chƒtre."(53) He looked very drolly, scarce able to meet our eyes;
but at last, as he is la franchise mˆme, he answered, "M. de la
Chƒtre est un bon homme--parfaitement bon homme: au reste, il est
brusque comme un cheval de carrosse."(54)

We were in the midst of our coffee when St. jean came forward to
M. de Narbonne, and said somebody wanted to speak to him. He went
out of the room; in two minutes he returned, followed by a