The Pension Beaurepas

aim to being a highly reasonable woman-I could not but admire the justice of this pretension-by recognising my irresponsibility. I had taken her daughter as I found her, which was,

the most cultivated understanding. I found her in the salon a couple of evenings after the incident I have just narrated, and I approached her with a view of making my peace with her, if this should prove necessary. But Mrs. Church was as gracious as I coul

ies, Mrs. Church," I

study in the parlour of a boarding-house. But I do what I can;

and you seem to hav

o know the best-to have, to desire, to recognise, only the best. That's what I have always done, in my quiet little way. I have gone through Europe on my devoted little errand,

ou, madam," I

ways can if you are devoted. Sometimes it has been a little music, sometimes a little deeper insight into the history of art; every little counts you know. Sometimes it ha

self. "Certainly," I remarked aloud-I admit, rather perversely-"if you have li

European pension system in many respects remarkable, and in some satisfactory. But of the

hear that!" I

ight say it for some others. We hav

I s

e. I prefer it to that of Mr. Ruck," added Mrs. Church, calmly

at all," I said "Don't take them more

mpanion rejoined, "ar

les of

merican t

And you shouldn't abuse those good Rucks, who have been very kind to your dau

d me. It might

e very drol

ible. I think we shall have to leave the Pension

of the Ruc

excellent addresses-written down the very hours of the train

," I said; "but they are v

chaise a porteurs; I will give her the name of a man who lets the

ou; he doesn't value his European privileges. He takes no interest. He regrets Wall Street, acutely. As his wife says, he

asked Mrs. Church, with

lives, not in selling, but in buying; and they, on their side, know how to do nothing else. To get something in a shop that they can put on their backs-that is their one idea; they haven't another in their heads. Of course they spend no end of money, and t

ed Mrs. Church. "I am afraid

it. Poor Mr. Ruck, who is extremely good-natured and soft, seems to me a really tragic figure. He is getting bad news every day from home; his business is going to the dogs. He is unable t

sense? Don't they know th

going. If he asks them how, that's his own affair. So, by way of not being mean, of

meditation. "Why, if Aurora were to go to stay

aid, laughing, "that your daughter shou

als-so sadly eprouvee? Why should a da

she li

my companion, softly, "th

tle, since you ask me. I thi

umptuous charge with a tranquil, candid

ome' out in New York, which is certainly, socially speaking, the El Dorado of young ladies. She likes any one, for the moment,

were to go with Miss Ruck to Amer

ynical supposition. "I can't imagine her-when it should come to the point

pletely in error; she is wholly unadapted to the peculiar conditions of American life. It would not please her. She would not sympathise. My daughter'

aken," I said; "go home

oes not appreciate them. One thing is certain: I must remove her from this pernicious influence. We must part company with this deplorable family. If Mr. Ruck and his ladies c

Dres

o immediately. There are several works in the gallery with which my daughter has not, I think,

ual anomalous appearance of both seeking and avoiding society, and he wandered obliquely toward Mrs. Church, whose last words he had overheard. "The seventeenth ce

to this incongruous jest. She clasped her large volume to her nea

is morning from Ch

ck, "I suppose you've

my agitation. I asked myself whether this was a sudden improvisation, consecrated by maternal devotion; but this point has never been elucidated. "They are giving up some charming rooms;

. "Well," he said, "I don't know as I want to go up Mo

hought I would offer you an

. But I seem to have more opportunities than I kno

th an air which was an admirable example of this virtue. "I

he transferred his perfectly quiet eyes to me. "Does she own a h