by L. T. Meade
lend me the bangle againto-night."
"No--I won't, Fanchon."
"But why not--why won't you?"
"You are so dreadfully silly about it--you show it to people--oh, not bytalking, but you shove out your hand and arm in such a hideously markedfashion. If you were modest, and like a girl accustomed to getjewellery, you would think nothing about it, and then no one wouldremark it. As it is, that precious Mr Burbery spoke of it. Then MrsDawson was attracted by it."
"But where's the good of wearing it, if no one is to see it?" queriedthe practical Fanchon.
"Oh, I don't know," said Brenda, crossly; "but I can assure you it isexceedingly bad form to intrude it in the way you do. You look, whenyou have it on, as though you were all bangle--it's absurd!"
"Well, all the same, I do wish you would let me put it on," saidFanchon. "I can slip it up under my sleeve, then no one will notice andit does support me so tremendously when I am undergoing the ordeal oftalking to a man."
"No--you shan't have it to-night," said Brenda, and there was a finalityin her tone which Fanchon recognised and did not attempt to dispute.
Supper that evening was of course extra delicious. The ladies were inraptures. The salad, made in the truly French style, was mostappetising. There were certain most "chic" little sandwiches handedround to eat with it. Mademoiselle would not give away the secret ofhow those sandwiches were made. There were iced drinks to refresh theunfortunate inmates of Mrs Dawson's fearfully hot dining-room. Therewas a fragrance about the supper which astonished and delighted thesepoor ladies. Mrs Simpkins very nearly shed tears.
"After the battle I've had all the afternoon with those dear, darling,dreadful children," she said, "it's fairly like heaven to come downhere."
Her raptures grew still greater as she partook of the savoury omelets,and by-and-by ate some of that _souffle_ which most certainly Mary Annecould never have compounded. But the crowning dish at that supper tablewas the preparation of crab to which Mademoiselle gave some long French,absolutely unpronounceable name, and which all the ladies consumed withimmense satisfaction. Mrs Dawson was so struck with the success of hersupper, and also with the pleasing knowledge that the ingredients whichcomposed it had cost hardly anything, that she began to entertainserious thoughts of taking Mademoiselle into partnership on the spot.With such a woman to help her with her daily _menage_, what might shenot aspire to? Another house, a higher class of boarders, double andeven treble profits. Then Mademoiselle was so nice to look at--althoughugly, yes, quite ugly--and so charmingly witty, but so modest withal,never attempting to take the lead, listening deferentially even to themost minute details with regard to Georgie's cold, and to Miss Price'spain in her head, and yet guiding the conversation ever and always intochannels which caused ripples of laughter and perfect good humour.
Brenda, who hitherto had been the centre of attraction, was castcompletely into the shade. Brenda Carlton seldom looked prettier thanshe did that evening, but nobody noticed her fresh young face with itsbright colour, nor the clear blue of her eyes, nor her charming figure,when ugly Mademoiselle was keeping the table in constant roars oflaughter. Brenda felt that, if this sort of thing went on, her feelingtowards the French governess would become dangerous.
The little Simpkinses were, of course, not allowed to sit up to supper,but the Amberleys always partook of that meal, and there was no one moregreedy on the present occasion than Nina Amberley, who enjoyed theFrenchwoman's cooking so intensely that she forgot to do anything buteat.
At last, however, the viands were disposed of. There was nothing forJane to remove from the table but the empty plates and dishes.Mademoiselle felt that she was wearing a little secret crown--the crownof a great success, and Mrs Dawson rose majestically from the board.
"Children," said Brenda, "you will at once go up to bed, it isexceedingly late."
Josie looked cross, Nina defiant.
"Les _pauvres enfants_!" exclaimed Mademoiselle. "Why confine them totheir _appartement_ on this so hot evening! The air would refreshthem--there is no need for this early retirement on these long summerdays."
"Your opinion, Mrs Simpkins, coincides with mine in that subject," saidBrenda, turning hastily to the fat mother of the babies.
"Oh, I know, my dear," said Mrs Simpkins, "and I always do hold with myfavourite proverb. But it is 'ot to-night, and I fairly gasp. Isuppose an extra hour up would not be permitted, Miss Carlton?"
"No, no--you must go to bed immediately," said Brenda, turning to herpupils. "Now off you go. Say good-night, Nina; say good-night,Josephine."
Very sulkily did the girls obey. They were both of them consumed withrage when they reached their hot attic.
"I _hate_ going to bed," said Nina.
"It is abominable--it is cruel to send us!" cried Josie. "I want toknow," she added, "why Fanchon, who is only a year and six months olderthan me should go out and have no end of fun and why we should liestewing in these hot beds!"
But though the little girls grumbled, they felt in their own minds thatthey were no match for Brenda; and when, a short time afterwards, thatyoung lady came into the room, they were both in bed and were evenpretending to be asleep. Brenda hastily put on her most becomingpicture hat, glanced at the private drawer which contained the braceletand her money, took Fanchon's hat and gloves from the room, and, tellingthe others to go to sleep and be quick about it, took her departure. Afew minutes later, she and Fanchon had stolen softly from the house, andten minutes after that, there came a gentle tap at the door of the roomwhere Nina and Josie were lying wide awake and conversing in low tonesabout their mutual grievances.
"Whoever is that?" said Joey, in a tone of some alarm. "Come in!" shecalled, and Mademoiselle entered.
"Oh, _pauvres petites_!" cried the French governess. "I venture to cometo offer you my consolations. This `early to bed' is what cannot bepermitted. I also am an instructress of the young. I have had a longexperience. Why should you not be out and enjoy the summer air?"
"Oh--but we dare not disobey Brenda!" exclaimed Nina.
"It is very kind of you, Mademoiselle, to come and see us," said Josie;"but Brenda always sends us to bed when she and Fanchon go out for theirfun."
"Do they have great fun at this hour?" asked Mademoiselle.
"Oh, I don't know--I expect so," exclaimed Josie, and she giggled alittle.
Mademoiselle uttered a sigh. She opened the window a little wider andleft the door ajar.
"Now there is a consoling draught," she said, "you will not suffer somuch from the hot, hot air. Tell me your little stories, _petites_, sothat I may you comfort while you lie awake."
The children did not know at first what they had especially to tell toMademoiselle; but that clever woman was not ten minutes in their societybefore she had obtained a vast lot of useful information from them--information which she meant to turn to good account. She had her way tomake in the world, and could only make it by more or less dishonestmeans. In short, before she left the little girls on this occasion, sheknew that little secret with regard to Nina's account-book, and why Ninawas learning this salutary lesson. She pretended to be rather shockedby the little girl's disclosure.
"Oh, _mais fi donc! mon enfant_," she exclaimed. "You to have had thatvery great mistrust! and your beautiful instructress has the anxietywritten all over her face. She punishes you, and it is well. Doubtlessit is also for that very reason that she confines you and your sister inthis so _triste appartement_, while she and Fanchon go abroad in orderto amuse themselves. But, my dear _petites_, I have not come to thishouse for nothing. I would aid you. I see not why you two poor littleones should not also have your so great pleasure. What would you say tocoming out with me for a little pastime to-morrow evening?"
"We would love it beyond anything!" said Joey. "But," said Nina, "wewould not dare!"
"And why not, _petites_, if no person did know it?"
"Surely you could not manage that?"
"Ah--bu
t yes; I think I know a way. I would you advise to slip into bedto-morrow evening with a willing grace; but put on your night thingsover your pretty day garments, so that you can slip them off quicklywhen I appear. I will then take you abroad for a delicious hour. Wewill go out and see the wonders of the night, and you will be in bedagain and, _peut-etre_, asleep, before Mademoiselle Brenda andMademoiselle Fanchon appear."
This sounded delicious, daring, extremely naughty, and altogether quiteimpossible to resist, to the little girls.
"You are quite a darling," said Nina. "I only wish you were ourgoverness instead of horrid