'
'Aren't you rather hard on them, Archie?' said Madame Midas, smiling
quietly. 'I'm very fond of the theatre myself.'
'It's no for me to give ma opeenion about ma betters,' replied
Archie, ungraciously, as he went out to see after the horse and
trap; 'but I dinna care aboot sitting in the seat of the scornfu',
or walking in the ways of the unrighteous,' and with this parting
shot at Vandeloup he went away.
That young man shrugged his shoulders, and looked at Madame Midas in
such a comical manner that she could not help smiling.
'You must forgive Archie,' she said, pausing at the door of her
bedroom for a moment. 'He has been brought up severely, and it is
hard to rid oneself of the traditions of youth.'
'Very traditional in this case, I'm afraid,' answered Gaston,
referring to McIntosh's age.
'If you like,' said Madame, in a kindly tone, 'you can stay in to-
night yourself, and go to the theatre.'
'Thank you, Madame,' replied Gaston, gravely. 'I will avail myself
of your kind permission.'
'I'm afraid you will find an Australian provincial company rather a
change after the Parisian theatres,' said Mrs Villiers, as she
vanished into her room.
Vandeloup smiled, and turned to Selina, who was busy about her
household work.
'Mademoiselle Selina,' he said, gaily, 'I am in want of a proverb to
answer Madame; if I can't get the best I must be content with what I
can get.
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