He hunted in black during the
ensuing season; and, indeed, henceforth laid aside his splendid attire
and his allurements as a young man. His waist expanded, or was no longer
confined by the cestus which had given it a shape. When he laid aside his
black, his whiskers, too, went into a sort of half-mourning, and appeared
in grey. "I make myself old, my friend," he said, pathetically; "I have
no more neither twenty years nor forty." He went to Rosebury Church no
more; but, with great order and sobriety, drove every Sunday to the
neighbouring Catholic chapel at C---- Castle. We had an ecclesiastic or
two to dine with us at Rosebury, one of whom I inclined to think was
Florac's director.
A reason, perhaps, for Paul's altered demeanour, was the presence of his
mother at Rosebury. No politeness or respect could be greater than Paul's
towards the Countess. Had she been a sovereign princess, Madame de Florac
could not have been treated with more profound courtesy than she now
received from her son.
Pages:
1755
1756
1757
1758
1759
1760
1761
1762
1763
1764
1765
1766
1767
1768
1769
1770
1771
1772
1773
1774
1775
1776
1777
1778
1779