Armine, Chapter XV-XVII [pp. 685-708]

I883~J A~M!NE. 693
giously," said Egerton. "Her mother died early, and she was
left altogether to her father's influence and training."
"Then how is it possible that she does not feel enthusiasm
for his hopes?"
"She has probably seen and known too much of what those
hopes mean. It is very different to look at a thing from afar,
with a poetic glamour around it, and to draw near and see it face
to face. MIle. Duchesne has seen revolution face to face more
than~once-in fact, sh~ sees it, in anticipation, all the time."
"On consideration," said Sibyl, with an air of reflection, "I
think that I should like to know her-if it were possible. There
must be something interesting about one who has had such a
life. But I suppose it is not possible?"
"Most things are possible, if one has the will to bring them
about," said Egerton. "There is one simple means by which
you can know Mlle. Duchesne, if you care to do so-she is a
great friend of the D'Antignacs."
"Indeed! So besides being interesting themselves, they have
the additional merit of possessing interesting friends! I shall
certainly insist on Laura's fulfilling her promise of taking me to
see them."
"~Vhat promise is it that Laura is to fulfil?" asked that
young lady, hearing her own name and drawing near.
"The promise of taking Miss Bertram to see the D'Antignacs," said Egerton. "I thought you had surely fulfilled
it some time ago."
"I don't think we have either of us found the necessary time,"
said Miss Dorrance. "But you need not be so reproachful, Mr.
Egerton. I assure you that I mean to go, and to take Sibyl."
"And I mean to be taken," said Miss Bertram; "for what
I have heard of M. d'Antignac-not only from you but from
others-makes me wish very much to know him."
"I hope that you will know him," said Egerton. "I am sure
that you will then find that there is such a thing as heroism in
the world, independent of any fancies with regard to it."
She looked at him with a quick glance.
"Do you mean rn~ fancies?" she asked. "I confess that I
have begun to doubt whether it has any existence independent
of them."
"There are times, I suppose, when we are all inclined to
doubt it," he answered. "But it fares ill with us, in that as in
most else, if faith dies into scepticism and we accept the lower
f~r want of belief in the higher."