"Poor lady!" whispered Rose to Blanche."How she weeps!--No doubt, she loved her dog as much as we love Spoil-sport."
"Alas! yes," replied Blanche."We also wept when our old Jovial was killed."
After a few minutes, Mrs.Grivois raised her head, dried her eyes definitively, and said in a gentle, and almost affectionate voice:
"Forgive me, young ladies! I was unable to repress the first movement of irritation, or rather of deep sorrow--for I was tenderly attached to this poor dog he has never left me for six years."
"We are very sorry for this misfortune, madame," resumed Rose; "and we regret it the more, that it seems to be irreparable."
"I was just saying to my sister, that we can the better fancy your grief, as we have had to mourn the death of our old horse, that carried us all the way from Siberia."
"Well, my dear young ladies, let us think no more about it.It was my fault; I should not have brought him with me; but he was always so miserable, whenever I left him.You will make allowance for my weakness.
A good heart feels for animals as well as people; so I must trust to your sensibility to excuse my hastiness."
"Do not think of it, madame; it is only your grief that afflicts us."
"I shall get over it, my dear young ladies--I shall get over it.The joy of the meeting between you and your relation will help to console me.
She will be so happy.You are so charming! and then the singular circumstance of your exact likeness to each other adds to the interest you inspire."
"You are too kind to us, madame."
"Oh, no--I am sure you resemble each other as much in disposition as in face."
"That is quite natural, madame," said Rose, "for since our birth we have never left each other a minute, whether by night or day.It would be strange, if we were not like in character."