He seemed very fond of her; a great deal fonder than she ever was of him.

The fact is, madame," said Prudence, lowering her voice to a confidential stage whisper, "she never seemed fond of him at all, and wouldn't have been married, I think, if she could have helped it." "Could have helped it?
What do you mean, Prudence?
Nobody made her, did they ?" Prudence fidgeted, and looked rather uneasy.
"Why, madame, she was not exactly forced, perhaps; but you know--you know you told me--" "Well ?" said La Masque, coldly.
"To do what I could," cried Prudence, in a sort of desperation; "and I did it, madame, and harassed her about it night and day.

And then the count was there, too, coaxing and entreating; and he was handsome and had such ways with him that no woman could resist, much less one so little used to gentlemen as Leoline.

And so, Madame Masque, we kept at her till we got her to consent to it at last; but in her secret heart, I know she did not want to be married--at least to the count," said Prudence, on serious afterthought.
"Well, well; that has nothing to do with it.

The question is, where is she to be found ?" "Found!" echoed Prudence; "has she then been lost ?" "Of coarse she has, you old simpleton! How could she help it, and she dead, with no one to look after her ?" said La Masque, with something like a half laugh.