Which do you think would be the greatest encumbrance,
grandmamma,--a humpback, or a wig and two daughters? I like Madame de
Florac; for the sake of the borough, I must try and like poor Madame de
Moncontour, and I will go and see them whenever you please."
So Ethel went to see Madame de Florac. She was very kind to Madame de
Preville's children, Madame de Florac's grandchildren; she was gay and
gracious with Madame de Moncontour. She went again and again to the Hotel
de Florac, not caring for Lady Kew's own circle of statesmen and
diplomatists, Russian, and Spanish, and French, whose talk about the
courts of Europe,--who was in favour at St. Petersburg, and who was in
disgrace at Schoenbrunn,--naturally did not amuse the lively young
person. The goodness of Madame de Florac's life, the tranquil grace and
melancholy kindness with which the French lady received her, soothed and
pleased Miss Ethel. She came and reposed in Madame de Florac's quiet
chamber, or sate in the shade in the sober old garden of her hotel; away
from all the trouble and chatter of the salons, the gossip of the
embassies, the fluttering ceremonial of the Parisian ladies' visits in
their fine toilettes, the fadaises of the dancing dandies, and the
pompous mysteries of the old statesmen who frequented her grandmother's
apartment.
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