Perhaps he will; but when he does, it will be too late so far as you shall be concerned." Terrified by that threat, Valerie had blenched, and had felt her spirit deserting her.
"And if I comply, madame ?" she had asked.

"If I do as you wish, if I tell this gentleman that I no longer desire to go to Paris--what then ?" The Dowager's manner had become more affectionate.

She had patted the shrinking girl upon the shoulder.

"In that case, Valerie, you shall suffer no constraint; you shall continue here as you have done." "And has there been no constraint hitherto ?" had been the girl's indignant rejoinder.
"Hardly, child," the Dowager had returned.

"We have sought to guide you to a wise choice--no more than that.