The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1894-07-04

suis tailleur" And, having so spoken,
he turned slightly from her and looked
down over the valley toward LIE Puy.
There was nothing more said upon the
subject as hey drove down from the
rock of Polignac back to the town. I'M
mediately on receiving the announce
ment Mrs. Thompson found that she had
no answer to make. She withdrew her
hand-and felt at once that she had re-
ceived a blow. 1t was not that she was
angry with NJ. Lacordaire for being a
tailor; nor was she angry with him in
that, being a tailor, he had so addressed
her. But she was surprised, disap-
pointed, and altogether put beyond her
ease. She had, at any rate. not expected
this. She had dreamed of his being a
banker; thought that, perhaps, he might
have been d wine merchant; but her idea
had never gone below a jeweler or watch
maker. When those words broke upon
her ear, Madame, je suis tailleur," she
had felt herself speecheless.
But the words had not been a minute
spoken when Lillian and Mimmy ran up
TO their mother "Oh. mamma" said
Lillian, 1--WE thought you were lost; we
have searched for you all over the cha
teau."
I'VE have been sitting quietly here.
my dear looking at the view," said Mrs.
Thompson.
But. mamma, I do wish you'd see the
mouth of the oracle. It is so large, and
so round, and so ugly. I put my arm in
to it all the way said Mimmy.
But at the present moment her man.
ma felt no interest in the mouth of the
oracle; and so they all walked down to-
gether to the carriage And. although
the way was steep, Mrs. Thompson man
aged to pick her steps without the as
sistance of an arm; nor did NJ. Lacor-
daire presume To offer it,
lent. Mrs. Thompson did make one or
two attempts at converse ton. but they
were not effectual. NJ Lacordaire could
not speak at his ease till this matter was
settled, and he already had begun to
perceive that his business was against
him. Why is it that the trade OF a
tailor should be less honorable than that
of a haberdasher, or even a grocer?
They sat next each other at dinner,
as usual; and here, as all eyes were up.
on them, they both made a great strug-
gle to behave in their accustomed way.
But even in this they failed. All the
world Of the Hotel des Ambassadors
knew that NJ Lacordaire had gone forth
TO make an offer TO Mrs. Thompson. and
all that world. therefore, was full of
speculation. But all the world could
make nothing of it. NJ. LacoTdaiCe did
look like a rejected man, but Mrs.
Thompson did not look like the woman
who had rejected him. That the offer
had been made-in that everybody
agreed, from the senior habitue Of the
house who always sat II the head of
the table. down to the junior assistant
garcon. But as to reading the riddle,
there was no accord among them.
When the dessert was done Mrs.
Thompson, as usual, withdrew, and NJ.
LacOrdaire, IS usual, bowed as he stood
behind his own chair. He did not, how
ever, attempt to follow her
But when she reached the door. she
called him. He was at her side in a
moment, and then she whispered in his
ear
And ]. also-I will be of the same
business"
When NJ. Lacordaire regained the ia
BILE the senior habitue. the junior gar
cor, and all the intermediate ranks of
men at the Hotel des Ambassadors
knew that they might congratulate him.
Mrs. Thompson had made a great
struggle; but. speaking for myself, am
inclined to think that she arrived at a
wise decision.-AntOny Trollope in n.