"
"Indeed!" with a faint, cutting surprise.
Indeed Etta looked younger than Catrina. On a l'age de son coeur, and if
the heart be worn it transmits its weariness to the face, where such
signs are ascribed to years. So the little stab was justified by
Catrina's appearance.
While the party assembled were thus exchanging social amenities, a past
master in such commerce joined them in the person of Claude de
Chauxville.
He smiled his mechanical, heartless smile upon them all, but when he
bowed over Etta's hand his face was grave. He expressed no surprise at
seeing Paul and Etta, though his manner betokened that emotion. There
was no sign of this meeting having been a prearranged matter, brought
about by himself through the easy and innocent instrumentality of the
countess.
"And you are going to Tver, no doubt?" he said almost at once to Etta.
"Yes," answered that lady, with a momentary hunted look in her eyes. It
is strange how an obscure geographical name may force its way into our
lives, never to be forgotten. Queen Mary of England struck a note of the
human octave when she protested that the word "Calais" was graven on her
heart. It seemed to Etta that "Tver" was written large wheresoever she
turned, for the conscience looks through a glass and sees whatever may
be written thereon overspreading every prospect.
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