"A word of encouragement would have brought him to your feet." "If I had thought so," Jeanne remarked, "I would have spoken it." The Princess looked across at her stepdaughter searchingly.
"Tell me the truth, Jeanne," she said.

"Have you been idiot enough to really care for this man ?" "That," Jeanne answered, "is a subject which I cannot discuss with any one, not even you." "It is all very well," the Princess answered, "but whatever happens, I must see that you do not make an idiot of yourself.

It is very important indeed, for more reasons than you know of." Jeanne looked up.
"Such as-- ?" she asked.
The Princess hesitated.

There were two evils before her.

It was not possible to escape from both.