Zai smiles softly at this, and then, with a woman’s way of harping on love subjects when in love herself, says suddenly:
“I wonder if Baby will marry Lord Delaval one of these days?”
“Lord Delaval!” echoes Gabrielle, with a start and a frown. “And why on earth should she marry him?”
“Because he has been fond of Baby as long as I can remember. When we were all children together, he used to fight her battles, and Baby at five was the most quarrelsome little monkey that you can imagine. She does not care for him now, but used to love sitting on his knee, and patting his cheeks, and _on revient toujours_, you know.”
“No! I _don’t_ know,” Gabrielle answers with acerbity.
Her big black eyes dilate as she takes in each unwelcome word and her full red lip curls scornfully.
“I _do_ hate stupid little reminiscences of childhood, Zai.
‘I remember! I remember! when my little lovers came! With a lily or a cherry, or a new invented game!’
Did you ever hear such inane trash as this sort of thing, Zai! Are you a simpleton or are you trying to throw dust in my eyes? We know each other too well for that. Let us speak truth always. I like truth under all circumstances, even if the hearing of it crushes my heart and spoils my life; but of course let those live on lies who like them!”
And she laughs, a harsh unpleasant laugh, that Balzac and Georges Sand have taught her, and to which is coupled a natural capability of catching at the under currents of life.
“I never was a hypocrite, Gabrielle and _I_ hate falsehoods as much as you do,” Zai answers rather hotly.
“Then why do you pretend that it’s Baby and not you that will become Lady Delaval by-and-by, perhaps.”
Zai faces her with a bright flush on her cheek, and a flash in her soft grey eyes.
“I Lady Delaval! Gabrielle, you must be mad to hint such a thing. Am I a child or a doll to be handed over to a man I would rather die than marry--if he were one of the Royalties and three times better looking than he is! Lord Delaval is an insipid dandy, with a weak face and--and just the opposite of what I admire!”
“Insipid, weak! Your ideas of him are just prejudice, Zai. You have heard your oracle run him down, and have taken in everything as if it was gospel. I am a bit of a physiognomist and I dare be sworn Lord Delaval never made up his mind to arrive at anything or anybody and failed!”