"Ah, I think I read your feelings in my turn," responded Herminie. "Your exclamation simply meant: 'She knows how sad the lot of an orphan is, and she will love me, perhaps. Perhaps in her I shall find the affection I have failed to find elsewhere.' Am I right?" added Herminie, offering her hand in her turn. "Have I not read your thoughts aright?" "Yes, that is true," replied Ernestine, yielding more and more to the singular charm that pervaded her companion's every word and look. "You have been so kind to me; you seem so honest and sincere that I do indeed long for your affection, mademoiselle. It--it is an ambition only. I dare not call it a hope, for you scarcely know me," concluded Ernestine, timidly. "But do you know me any better than I know you?" "No, but with you it is very different." "And why?" "Because I am already under deep obligations to you, and yet I ask an even greater favour." "But how do you know that I will not be very glad to give you the friendship you ask in exchange for yours? You seem to me well worthy of it," said Herminie, who, on her side, was beginning to feel an increasing fondness for Ernestine. Then, suddenly becoming thoughtful, she added: "Do you know that this is very strange?" "What, mademoiselle?" asked Ernestine, a little worried by the seriousness of her companion's face. "We have known each other barely half an hour. I do not know your name, you do not know mine; yet here we are almost exchanging confidences." "But why should you be surprised to see affection and confidence spring up suddenly between a benefactress and the person obliged, mademoiselle?" asked Ernestine, timidly, almost imploringly, as if fearing Herminie might regret the interest she had manifested in her up to this time. "I am sure nothing could bring two persons together so quickly and so closely as compassion on one side and gratitude on the other." "I am too anxious to believe you not to yield to your arguments very readily," Herminie answered, half laughingly, half seriously. "But my reasoning is true, mademoiselle," said Ernestine, encouraged by her success, and anxious to make her companion share her convictions; "besides, the similarity in our situations helps to bring us together. The fact that we are both orphans is surely a bond between us." "It is indeed," said the duchess, pressing Ernestine's hand affectionately. "Then you will really grant me your affection some day?" "A few minutes ago, without even knowing you, I was touched by your painful position," replied Herminie. "Now I feel that I love you because it is so evident that you have a kind and noble heart." "Oh, if you only knew what pleasure your words give me! I will never prove ungrateful, I swear it, mademoiselle!" Then as if bethinking herself, she added, "Mademoiselle? It seems to me that it will be very difficult for me to call you that now."