You took me on, Madame, an unknown waif,
without money, friends, or a character; you believed in me when no
one else did; you have been my guardian angel: and do you think that
I can forget your goodness to me for the last six months? No!
Madame,' rising, 'I have a heart, and while I live that heart will
ever remember you with gratitude and love;' and bending forward he
took her hand and kissed it gallantly.
'You think too much of what I have done,' said Madame, who was,
nevertheless, pleased at this display of emotion, albeit, according
to her English ideas, it seemed to savour too much of the
footlights. 'I only did to you what I would do to all men. I am
glad, in this instance, to find my confidence has not been
misplaced; when do you think of leaving us?'
'In about two or three weeks,' answered Vandeloup, carelessly, 'but
not till you find another clerk; besides, Madame, do not think you
have lost sight of me for ever; I will go down to Melbourne, settle
all my affairs, and come up and see you again.'
'So you say,' replied Mrs Villiers, sceptically smiling.
'Well,' replied M. Vandeloup, with a shrug, 'we will see--at all
events, gratitude is such a rare virtue that there is decided
novelty in possessing it.'
'M. Vandeloup,' said Madame, suddenly, after they had been chatting
for a few moments, 'one thing you must do for me in Melbourne.
Pages:
194
195
196
197
198
199
200
201
202
203
204
205
206
207
208
209
210
211
212
213
214
215
216
217
218