The old woman was entreated to bestow her blessing on the young one, all in Arcadia, and let the young one nestle to the bosom she had not an idea of robbing.

She could not have had the idea, else how could she have made the petition?
And in order to compliment a venerable dame on her pure friendship for a gentleman, it was imperative to reject the idea.
Besides, after seeing the photograph of the baroness, common civility insisted on the purity of her friendship.

Nay, in mercy to the poor gentleman, friendship it must be.
A letter of reply from that noble lady was due.

Possibly she had determined not to write, but to act.

She was a lady of exalted birth, a lady of the upper aristocracy, who could, if she would, bring both a social and official pressure upon the General: and it might be in motion now behind the scenes, Clotilde laid hold of her phantom baroness, almost happy under the phantom's whisper that she need not despair.