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"Yes he is," I replied, "he is very entertaining and very well-bred. Who is he?" "His history is told in few words," replied Monsieur Gironac. "His father emigrated with the Bourbons; but, unlike most of those who emigrated, he neither turned music-teacher, dancing-master, hair-dresser, nor teacher of the French language. He had a little money, and he embarked in commerce.
"Mademoiselle Valerie de Chatenoeuf, you are une enfant. I will no longer trouble myself with looking out for a husband for you. You shall die a sour old maid," and Monsieur Gironac left the room, pretending to be in a passion. A few days after the meeting with Count de Chavannes, Lionel made his appearance. My heart beat quick as I welcomed him.
They received me with the greatest kindness and consideration, treating me with great respect, until our extreme intimacy no longer required it, and our friendship increased more than it could have done from Caroline expressing a wish to learn to model flowers, and becoming the pupil of Madame Gironac.
The first and most important was this: I went every Sunday to the Catholic Chapel with Madame Gironac, and of course I joined in the singing. On the third Sunday as I was going out, I was touched on the arm by one of the priests, who requested to speak with me in the vestry. Madame Gironac and I followed him, and he requested us to sit down. "Who have I the pleasure of addressing?" said he to me.
There is an estate, I believe, in Brittany, but Monsieur de Chavannes, who was at school here, and has passed all his younger days in this country, is more an Englishman than a Frenchman, and only visits France at rare intervals. That is all I know about him, and that only by accident, Monsieur Gironac having told me, in his lively way, what I should not have dreamed of inquiring."
"I have no doubt you can, Monsieur," I answered, rather pettishly; "for I suppose you asked him yourself; and, if you did so on my account, I must beg you will omit that proof of kindness in future, for I do not wish to see him." "Oh! Monsieur Gironac, for shame, you have made her very angry with your ridiculous badinage you have made her angry, really, and I do not wonder.
I did so; and from that day until I quitted Lady R I applied myself so assiduously to the art, that, with the unreserved communications of Madame Gironac, I became a proficient, and could equal her own performances Madame Gironac declared that I excelled her, because I had more taste but to return.
"Yes, when Monsieur Gironac comes home to escort us; we may as well put on our bonnets, for he will be here in a few minutes." "Oh, Valerie, how fortunate it was that I came to Mrs Bradshaw's," said Caroline, "and that I met you! I should have been moped, that is certain, if I had not, but now I'm so happy that's Monsieur Gironac's knock, I'm sure."
You will soon sit down with people of more consequence than Valerie de Chatenoeuf." "But never with anyone that I shall esteem or respect so much, be they who they may," replied Lionel. During dinner, I mentioned that Mr Selwyn had called and engaged Caroline and me to go to the Horticultural fete. "I wish Madame Gironac was going," continued I, "she is so fond of flowers."
Why rather I shall request him to dine with me to-morrow, the next day, the day after. If he do not, I swear by my honour, foi de Gironac, I will dine at home again never more."
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