She had stood still upon their entrance, in order to receive them, conscious, perhaps, that motion did not become her well; and as she was somewhat embarrassed in receiving and repaying their compliments, the elder stranger, ignorant of the rank of the party whom she addressed, was led to pay her salutation in a manner rather as if she conferred than received an honour through the interview.
"I rejoice," she said, with a smile which was meant to express condescension at once and encouragement, "that we are at length permitted the society of such a respectable person of our own sex as you appear to be.

I must say that my niece and I have had but little for which to thank the hospitality of King Louis .-- Nay, niece, never pluck my sleeve--I am sure I read in the looks of this young lady sympathy for out situation .-- Since we came hither, fair madam, we have been used little better than mere prisoners; and after a thousand invitations to throw our cause and our persons under the protection of France, the Most Christian King has afforded us at first but a base inn for our residence, and now a corner of this moth eaten palace, out of which we are only permitted to creep towards sunset, as if we were bats or owls, whose appearance in the sunshine is to be held matter of ill omen." "I am sorry," said the Princess, faltering with the awkward embarrassment of the interview, "that we have been unable, hitherto, to receive you according to your deserts .-- Your niece, I trust, is better satisfied ?" "Much--much better than I can express," answered the youthful Countess.
"I sought but safety and I have found solitude and secrecy besides.

The seclusion of our former residence, and the still greater solitude of that now assigned to us, augment, in my eye, the favour which the King vouchsafed to us unfortunate fugitives." "Silence, my silly cousin," said the elder lady, "and let us speak according to our conscience, since at last we are alone with one of our own sex--I say alone, for that handsome young soldier is a mere statue, since he seems not to have the use of his limbs, and I am given to understand he wants that of his tongue, at least in civilized language--I say, since no one but this lady can understand us, I must own there is nothing I have regretted equal to taking this French journey.

I looked for a splendid reception, tournaments, carousals, pageants, and festivals; instead of which, all has been seclusion and obscurity! and the best society whom the King introduced to us, was a Bohemian vagabond, by whose agency he directed us to correspond with our friends in Flanders .-- Perhaps," said the lady, "it is his politic intention to mew us up here until our lives' end, that he may seize on our estates, after the extinction of the ancient house of Croye.

The Duke of Burgundy was not so cruel; he offered my niece a husband, though he was a bad one." "I should have thought the veil preferable to an evil husband," said the Princess, with difficulty finding opportunity to interpose a word.
"One would at least wish to have the choice, madam," replied the voluble dame.