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There was nothing more said upon the subject as they drove down from
the rock of Polignac back to the town。 Immediately on receiving the
announcement； Mrs。 Thompson found that she had no answer to make。
She withdrew her handand felt at once that she had received a
blow。 It was not that she was angry with M。 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； disappointed； 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 a wine merchant； but her idea had never gone
below a jeweller or watchmaker。 When those words broke upon her
ear； 〃Madame； je suis tailleur；〃 she had felt herself to be
speechless。
But the words had not been a minute spoken when Lilian and Mimmy ran
up to their mother。 〃Oh； mamma；〃 said Lilian； 〃we thought you were
lost； we have searched for you all over the chateau。〃
〃We have been sitting very 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 into it all the
way；〃 said Mimmy。
But at the present moment her mamma felt no interest in the mouth of
the oracle； and so they all walked down together to the carriage。
And； though the way was steep； Mrs。 Thompson managed to pick her
steps without the assistance of an arm； nor did M。 Lacordaire
presume to offer it。
The drive back to town was very silent。 Mrs。 Thompson did make one
or two attempts at conversation； but they were not effectual。 M。
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 honourable
than that of a haberdasher； or even a grocer？
They sat next each other at dinner； as usual； and here； as all eyes
were upon them； they both made a great struggle to behave in their
accustomed way。 But even in this they failed。 All the world of the
Hotel des Ambassadeurs knew that M。 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。
M。 Lacordaire did look like a rejected man； but Mrs。 Thompson did
not look like the woman who had rejected him。 That the offer had
been madein that everybody agreed； from the senior habitue of the
house who always sat at 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 M。
Lacordaire； as usual； bowed as he stood behind his own chair。 He
did not； however； 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 I； alsoI will be of the same business。〃
When M。 Lacordaire regained the table the senior habitue； the junior
garcon； and all the intermediate ranks of men at the Hotel des
Ambassadeurs knew that they might congratulate him。
Mrs。 Thompson had made a great struggle； but； speaking for myself； I
am inclined to think that she arrived at last at a wise decision。
End