Norbert rose, and, taking his wife's arm, led her away.
"Come, Marie, come," said he; "she has arrived." Diana had reflected deeply before she had taken this extraordinarily bold step.

In paying a visit so contrary to all the usual rules of etiquette, she exposed herself to the chance of receiving a severe rebuff.

The few seconds that elapsed while she was still alone in the drawing-room seemed like so many centuries; but the door was opened, and Norbert and his wife appeared.

Then, with a charming smile, Madame de Mussidan rose and bowed gracefully to the Duchess de Champdoce, making a series of half-jesting apologies for her intrusion.

She had been utterly unable, she said, to resist the pleasure she should experience in seeing an old country neighbor, the more so as they were now separated by so short a distance.