Moths by Ouida — page 361: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

MOTHS. 357 and some another; but I believe as how the real fact is this, isn’t it? Your husband has sent you here because you would not re- ceive Madame de Sonnaz?” ‘* That is the fact—yes.” ** Well, you are quite right. I only know if the duke—but never mind that. You know, or perhaps you don’t know, that in the world they say another thing than that: they say Prince Zouroff is jealous of that beautiful creature, Correze——” ‘7 must request that you do not say that to me.” ** Well, they say it in your absence, some. I thoucht I’d bet- ter tell you. That Sonnaz woman is a bad lot: poisonous as snakes in a swamp she is, and of course she bruits it abroad. I cannot make out what your husband drives at; guess he wants you to divorce him; but it aren’t him so much as it’s that snake. Men are always what some woman or other makes them. Now, you know, this is what I came to say. I know te don’t like me, but I am the wife of the head of your father’s ouse, and nothing can change that now, and in the world I’m some pumpkins—I mean they think a good deal of me. Now, what I come to ask you is this, and the duke says it with me with all his heart. Wewant you to come and live with us at Castle Herbert, or in London, or wherever we are. It will shut people’s mouths. It will nonsuit your husband, and you shall never see that hussy of the Faubourg in my house, that I promise you. Will you doit? Will you? Folks mind me, and when I say to them the Princess Zouroff stays with me because her husband outrages her, the world will know it’s a fact. That’s She ceased, and awaited the effect of her words anxiously and — even nervously; she meant with all sincerity all she said. Into Vere’s eolorless face a warmth came: she felt angered, yet she was touched to the quick. Shecould not endure the pity, the 2 Sopa yet the honesty and the hospitality and the frank indness moved her to emotion. | None of her own friends, none of those who had been her debtor for many an act of kindness or hour of pleasure, had ever thought to come to her in her exile; and the journey was one long and tedious, involving discomfort and self sacrifice, and yet had had no terrors for this woman, whose vulgarities she had always treated with disdain, whose existence she had always ignored. whose rank she had always refused to acknowledge. ‘*'You aren’t angry?” said the other, humbly. ‘Angry? Oh, no; you have been very good.” NENT ‘‘Then you will come with us? Say! Your cousin will be as glad as I.” She was silent. “Do come!” urged the other, with wistful eagerness, ‘‘ Weare going straight home. Come with us. Of course your mother ought to be the one, but then she’s—it’s no use thinking of her, and, besides, they wouldn’t believe her. They’ll betieve me. I don’t lie. And you know I’m an honest woman. I mean to be honest all my days. I flirt, to be sure, but, Lord! what’s that? ¥d never do what my boy would be sorry I had done when he Eomicboo ‘S (qo)