236 THE PORTKAIT OF A LADY. " Because it's the prettiest you have ; for me you must always wear the prettiest. Please put it on the next time. It seems to me they don't dress you so well as they might." The child stroked down her antiquated skirt, sparingly. " It's a good little dress to make tea don't you think 1 Do you not believe papa would allow me ? " " Impossible for me to say, my child," said the Countess. "For me, your father's ideas are unfathomable. Madame Merle understands them better; ask her." Madame Merle smiled with her usual geniality. " It's a weighty question let me think. It seems to me it would please your father to see a careful little daughter making his tea. It's the proper duty of the daughter of the house when she grows up." " So it seems to me, Madame Merle ! " Pansy cried. " You shall see how well I will niake it. A spoonful for each." And she began to busy herself at the table. " Two spoonfuls for me," said the Countess, who, with Madame Merle, remained for some moments watching her. "Listen to me, Pansy," the Countess resumed at last. "I .should like to know what you think of your visitor." " Ah, she is not mine she is papa's," said Pansy. " Miss Archer came to see you as well," Madame Merle remarked. " I am very happy to hear that. She has been very polite to me." " Do you like her, then 1 " the Countess asked. " She is charming charming," said Pansy, in her little neat, conversational tone. " She pleases me exceedingly." " And you think she pleases your father 1 ? " "Ah, really, Countess," murmured Madame Merle, dissua- sively. " Go and call them to tea," she went on, to the child. " You will see if they don't like it ! " Pansy declared ; and went off to summon the others, who were still lingering at the end of the terrace. " If Miss Archer is to become her mother it is surely interest- ing to know whether the child likes her," said the Countess. " If your brother marries again it won't be for Pansy's sake," Madame Merle replied. " She will soon be sixteen, and after that she will begin to need a husband rather than a stepmother." " And will you provide the husband as well 1 " " I shall certainly take an interest in her marrying well. I imagine you will do the same." " Indeed I shan't ! " cried the Countess. " Why should I of all women, set such a price on a husband ? "
