Hortense had been for some time nodding over her knitting; fallen into a doze now, she made no response to the remark.
"You would have no objection to come here oftener of an evening?" inquired Robert, as he took her folded mantle from the side-table, where it still lay, and carefully wrapped it round her.
"I like to come here; but I have no desire to be intrusive. I am not hinting to be asked; you must understand that."
"Oh! I understand thee, child. You sometimes lecture me for wishing to be rich, Lina; but if I _were_ rich, you should live here always--at any rate, you should live with me wherever my habitation might be."
"That would be pleasant; and if you were poor--ever so poor--it would still be pleasant. Good-night, Robert."

Hortense had been for some time dozing over her knitting, and made no response.
"You would not mind coming here oftener of an evening?" inquired Robert, as he carefully wrapped her mantle round her.
"I like to come; but I have no desire to be intrusive. I am not hinting to be asked; you must understand that."
"Oh! I understand thee, child. You sometimes lecture me for wishing to be rich, Lina; but if I were rich, you should live here always."
"That would be pleasant, even if you were poor. Good-night, Robert."
