Her youth had been cruel, disorderly,
and vicious. It had lasted long; but now, when middle age stood at last
confessed, she was lapsing, it seemed, into amiability and good
behavior. She was, indeed, fast forgetting her own history, and soon the
recital of it would surprise no one so much as herself.
It was five o'clock. Madame d'Estrees had just established herself in
the silk-panelled drawing-room of Donna Laura's apartment, expectant of
visitors, and, in particular, of her daughter.
In begging Kitty to come on this particular afternoon, she had not
thought fit to mention that it would be Donna Laura's "day." Had she
done so, Kitty, in consideration of her mourning, would perhaps have
cried off. Whereas, really--poor, dear child!--what she wanted was
distraction and amusement.
And what Madame d'Estrees wanted was the presence beside her, in public,
of Lady Kitty Ashe. Kitty had already visited her mother privately, and
had explored the antiquities of the Vercelli palace. But Madame
d'Estrees was now intent on something more and different.
For in the four years which had now elapsed since the Ashe's marriage
this lively lady had known adversity.
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