“Yes,” said Pepsie. Now that she had started she meant to give full rein to her fancy. “And every one will be ready to worship you, and you’ll ride out in a blue carriage, with eight white horses.”
“Oh, oh!” interrupted Lady Jane rapturously; “and you’ll go with me, and it will be just as good as riding in Tante Modeste’s milk cart.”
“Better, much better,” agreed Pepsie, quite willing, in her present mood, to admit that there was something better; “and then you’ll have a big, big house in the country, with grass, and trees, and flowers, and a fountain that will tinkle, tinkle all the time.”
“And you and Mama Madelon will live with me always.” Here a sudden shadow passed over the bright little face, and the wide eyes grew very wistful. “And, Pepsie, perhaps God will let papa and mama come and live with me again.”
“YES, LADY DEAR, I WANT YOU TO LEARN TO PLAY ON THE PIANO, AND I’LL TELL YOU WHAT I’VE BEEN THINKING OF,” SAID PEPSIE
“Perhaps so, dear,” returned Pepsie with quick sympathy. “When I say my prayers, I’ll ask.”
Presently Lady Jane said softly, with an anxious glance at Pepsie, “You know, you told me that mama might come back before Christmas. It’s nearly Christmas, isn’t it? Oh, I wish I could know if she was coming back! Can’t you ask your cards, Pepsie? Perhaps they’ll tell if she’ll come.”
“I’ll try,” replied Pepsie, “yes, I’ll try; but sometimes they won’t tell.”
When Lady Jane asked permission of Madame Jozain to study music with Mam’selle Diane, Tante Pauline consented readily. In fact, she was overjoyed. It was no common honor to have one’s niece instructed by a d’Hautreve, and it was another feather in her much beplumed cap. By and by people would think more of her and treat her with greater consideration. When she was once intimate with the d’Hautreve ladies, the neighbors wouldn’t dare turn the cold shoulder to her; for through their interest in the child she expected to gain a foothold for herself; but she had yet to learn how very exclusive a d’Hautreve could be, under certain circumstances.