Page:The Castle of Wolfenbach - Parsons - 1854.djvu/116

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as she is in the beauty of her person, and that it will be her own fault only if she is not established in a more brilliant situation than her enemies can boast of."

With these words he left the room, with a look of scorn she could not support, but burst into tears. "Your brother has cruelly insulted me, (said she.) "I am sorry for it, and for the occasion, (answered Madamoiselle De Bouville;) but indeed you have been unguarded in your reports to the disadvantage of Miss Weimar." "Name her not, (cried she) I hate her." "That may be, (returned the other) nevertheless I hold it my duty to do her justice." She then briefly mentioned Mr. Weimar was only her guardian, and that he was come after her to solicit her hand, the only thing for which she left him. His offers before the Marquis and his lady, and the very great justice he did her character. The malicious girl was ready to burst with spleen, but carried it off with an air. "Upon my word, (said she) Mr. Weimar was himself the person who first mentioned the affair to her disadvantage; and I suppose there is some point to carry, or some mystery in an affair where there are such contradictions, which I do not comprehend, and which, I dare say, will deceive nobody, though I would venture to swear, hardly any person will concern themselves about the Marchioness's little protogée, or whether the German is uncle or not to one whom nobody knows." She arose, and desiring her respects to her very polite brother, flounced out of the room.

Neither her resentment nor absence was a subject of regret to Adelaide, who only visited her in compliance with the fashion of the times, which is to go every where, with the rest of the world, and assist in forming a crowd, without knowing or caring for three fourths of the company.

Meantime the remainder of the day was spent at the Marquis's in the most affectionate endeavours to