My father is of opinion that the wedding should not be delayed too long.  While at Versailles he made the acquaintance of M. de la Feste, and though they had but a short and hurried communion with each other, he was much impressed by M. de la Feste’s disposition and conduct, and is strongly in favour of his suit.  It is odd that Caroline’s betrothed should influence in his favour all who come near him.  His portrait, which dear Caroline has shown me, exhibits him to be of a physique that partly accounts for this:  but there must be something more than mere appearance, and it is probably some sort of glamour or fascinating power—­the quality which prevented Caroline from describing him to me with any accuracy of detail.  At the same time, I see from the photograph that his face and head are remarkably well formed; and though the contours of his mouth are hidden by his moustache, his arched brows show well the romantic disposition of a true lover and painter of Nature.  I think that the owner of such a face as this must be tender and sympathetic and true.

October 30.—­As my sister’s grief for her mother becomes more and more calmed, her love for M. de la Feste begins to reassume its former absorbing command of her.  She thinks of him incessantly, and writes whole treatises to him by way of letters.  Her blank disappointment at his announcement of his inability to pay us a visit quite so soon as he had promised, was quite tragic.  I, too, am disappointed, for I wanted to see and estimate him.  But having arranged to go to Holland to seize some aerial effects for his pictures, which are only to be obtained at this time of the autumn, he is obliged to postpone his journey this way, which is now to be made early in the new year.  I think myself that he ought to have come at all sacrifices, considering Caroline’s recent loss, the sad postponement of what she was looking forward to, and her single-minded affection for him.  Still, who knows; his professional success is important.  Moreover, she is cheerful, and hopeful, and the delay will soon be overpast.

CHAPTER IV.—­SHE BEHOLDS THE ATTRACTIVE STRANGER

February 16.—­We have had such a dull life here all the winter that I have found nothing important enough to set down, and broke off my journal accordingly.  I resume it now to make an entry on the subject of dear Caroline’s future.  It seems that she was too grieved, immediately after the loss of our mother, to answer definitely the question of M. de la Feste how long the postponement was to be; then, afterwards, it was agreed that the matter should be discussed on his autumn visit; but as he did not come, it has remained in abeyance till this week, when Caroline, with the greatest simplicity and confidence, has written to him without any further pressure on his part, and told him that she is quite ready to fix the time, and will do so as soon as he arrives to see her.