If they need to reform, they must
reform themselves. We make our own lives what they are."
"Dear little philosopher!" said Madame Bozier tenderly, taking
Sylvie's small white hand as it hung down from her shoulder and
kissing it, "You are very depressed to-day! You must not take things
so seriously! If you do not love the Marquis as you once did--"
"As I once did--ah, yes!" said Sylvie, "I did love him. I thought he
could not be otherwise than great and true and noble-hearted--but--"
She broke off with a sigh.
"Well, and now that you know he is not the hero you imagined him,
all you have to do is to tell him so," said the practical Bozier
cheerfully, "Or if you do not want to pain him by such absolute
candour, give him his refusal as gently and kindly as you can."
Sylvie sighed again.
"I am very sorry," she said, "If I could have foreseen this--
perhaps--"
"But did you not foresee it?" asked Madame Bozier persistently, "Did
you not realize that men always want what they cannot have--and that
the very fact of your leaving Paris increased his ardour and sent
him on here in pursuit?"
Sylvie Hermenstein was of a very truthful nature, and she had not
attempted to deny this suggestion.
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