Valancourt, meanwhile,
scarcely less embarrassed, did not dare to look at her, for whom he
was thus distressed; but, when Madame Cheron was silent, he said,
'Flattering, madam, as your approbation is to me--highly as I am
honoured by it--I have yet so much to fear, that I scarcely dare to
hope.' 'Pray, sir, explain yourself,' said Madame Cheron; an
unexpected requisition, which embarrassed Valancourt again, and
almost overcame him with confusion, at circumstances, on which, had
he been only a spectator of the scene, he would have smiled.
'Till I receive Mademoiselle St. Aubert's permission to accept your
indulgence,' said he, falteringly--'till she allows me to hope--'
'O! is that all?' interrupted Madame Cheron. 'Well, I will take upon
me to answer for her. But at the same time, sir, give me leave to
observe to you, that I am her guardian, and that I expect, in every
instance, that my will is hers.'
As she said this, she rose and quitted the room, leaving Emily and
Valancourt in a state of mutual embarrassment; and, when Valancourt's
hopes enabled him to overcome his fears, and to address her with the
zeal and sincerity so natural to him, it was a considerable time
before she was sufficiently recovered to hear with distinctness his
solicitations and inquiries.
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