What colours will they be ?" Pansy demanded with interest.
Madame Merle meditated.

"Useful colours." "But very pretty ?" "Are you very fond of pretty things ?" "Yes; but--but not too fond," said Pansy with a trace of asceticism.
"Well, they won't be too pretty," Madame Merle returned with a laugh.
She took the child's other hand and drew her nearer; after which, looking at her a moment, "Shall you miss mother Catherine ?" she went on.
"Yes--when I think of her." "Try then not to think of her.

Perhaps some day," added Madame Merle, "you'll have another mother." "I don't think that's necessary," Pansy said, repeating her little soft conciliatory sigh.

"I had more than thirty mothers at the convent." Her father's step sounded again in the antechamber, and Madame Merle got up, releasing the child.

Mr.Osmond came in and closed the door; then, without looking at Madame Merle, he pushed one or two chairs back into their places.