Moths by Ouida — page 98: what you’re looking at

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

04 | MOTHS. furious, hopeless, over her daughter’s wicked obstinacy, Lady Stoat only laughed at her in a gentle, rallying way. ‘¢ You little goose! As if girls were not always like that! She has got Correze in her head still, and she is a difficult sort of nature, I grant. What does it matter after all? You have only ’ to be firm. She will come to reason.” , But I never, never could be firm,” sobbed Lady Dolly. _ ‘The Herberts are, [am not. And Vere is just like her father; when I asked him to have a stole and rochet and look nice, nothing would induce him, because he said something about his bishop——’” Lady Stoat, in her superior wisduim, smiled once more. ‘‘Was poor Vere so very low in the matter of vestments? How curious! the Herberts were Catholic until James the First’s time. But why do you fret so? The child isa beauty, really a beauty. Even if she persist in her hatred of Zouroff she will marry well, I am sure; and she must not persist init. You must have com- mon sense.”’ ‘‘But what can one do?” said Lady Dolly in desperation. ‘‘It is all very easy to talk, but it is not such a little thing to force a girl’s will in these days; she can make a fuss, and then society abuses you, and I think the police even can interfere, and the Lord Chancellor if she have no father.” And Lady Dolly sobbed afresh. ‘*Dear little goose!” said Lady Stoat, consolingly, but rather wearied. ‘‘Of course nobody uses force; there are thousand pleasant ways: children never know what is best for them. We, who are their nearest and dearest, must talse care of their tender, foolish, ignorant young lives, committed to us for guidance. (+wendolen even was reluctant; but now in every letter she sends me she says, ‘Oh, mamma, how right you were!’ That is what your Vera will say to you, darling, a year hence, when she will nate been Princess Zouroff long enough to have got used toa im, Lady Dolly shiverered a little at all that the words implied. Her friend glanced at her. ‘*Tf Zourofl cause you apprehension for any reason I am un- aware of,” she said, softly, ‘‘there are others; though, to be sure, as your pretty child is portionless, it may be difficult——” ‘*No, it must be Zouroff,” said Lady Dolly, nervously and quickly. ‘‘She has no money, as you say; and every one wants money nowadays.” ‘“Except a Russian,” said Lady Stoat, with asmile. ‘‘ Then, since 2 bi wish for him, take him now he is to be had. But I would advise you not to dawdle, love. Men like him, if they are denied one fancy, soon change to another; and he has all the world to console him for Vere’s loss.” ‘*1 have told him he should have her answer in a day or two. i said she was shy, timid, too surprised; he seems to like that.” ‘‘Of course he likes it. Men always like it in women they mean to make their wives. Then, in a day or two you must convince her; that is all. Idonot say it will be easy with her (E(0) i -coOmMm ( 00 “S \ ae