So he began with extreme gentleness and care.
"You have not been long in this country, Lady Tancred, have you?
One can see it--you are so exquisitely _chic_.

And how perfectly you speak English! Not the slightest accent.

It is delicious.

Did you learn it when very young ?" "My father was an Englishman," said Zara, disarmed from her usual chilling reserve by the sympathy in his voice.

"I always spoke it until I was thirteen, and since then, too.