by L. T. Meade
confused, interested, and on the whole pleased. They allentered the drawing-room, the three girls dead tired with their day and,consequently, very cross; Brenda was more or less cross also, butgratified to find there was such a fuss being made about her.Mademoiselle was cool, ugly, but nevertheless charming looking. Whatwas there about her French dress and French manner which lifted heraltogether into a different world from her dowdy English neighbours?
She was in black too--black from head to foot; but her black dressfitted her like a glove and her hair was most becomingly arranged. Inshort, she looked finished. Mrs Simpkins looked the reverse offinished, for she had just had a scuffle with her eldest baby in whichthe baby had been distinctly victorious; and Miss Price was hot anduntidy, cross with the weather, but, nevertheless, ready to welcome thegossip that Brenda might treat them to.
"Oh, you poor childrens!" said Mademoiselle. "Miss Carlton will you notsend these _petites_ to their rest--they look so _fatiguees_. They wantthe repose so essential to the youth. What sweet childrens! I know Ishall adore them all. But go, my little ones. Mademoiselle, youpermit? Yes--go at once to your needed rest."
"Yes, children; do run upstairs," said Brenda. "Fanchon, you must gowith the rest; we're not going out this evening."
"Oh, you've said that already!" remarked Fanchon in a rude voice, "andyou've let the cat out of the bag too!" she continued, a venomousexpression coming into her face; for the younger girls were not supposedto know anything of the existence of Harry Jordan.
"_What_ cat out of _what_ bag?" asked Mademoiselle. "I do so _adore_cats in bags--what mean you, _mon enfant_--your words thrill me--whatcat out of what bag?"
"Hold your tongue, Fanchon, and go to bed!" said Brenda.
"Obey your governess, my dear," said Mrs Simpkins. "You're dead tired:creep upstairs, all three of you, and don't, for the life of you, wakemy Georgie, for he's that fractious--enough to madden a body."
The girls had to depart, and then Miss Price went up to Mrs Dawson andwhispered something in her ear, the result of which was that Mrs Dawsonwent to the door and called Jane. She gave her hurried directions and,by-and-by, what should appear in the little drawing-room but deliciousices which had hastily been fetched from a neighbouring confectioner's,and which Miss Price meant to pay for. Mademoiselle declared that shefairly gloated on the ices made in Angleterre; even Brenda was soothedby a really good strawberry ice, and, as there was one apiece, all theladies congregated round and ate their dainties with deliberation.
"Now tell me about the Castle, do," said Miss Price. "Is it as grand asthey make out, or do they exaggerate?"
"Of course they exaggerate," said Mrs Simpkins. "Folks of that kindalways do."
"But no," cried Mademoiselle, "that is _imposseeble_ to exaggerate theso great glories of Castle Beverley! It cannot be done. I have heardit described, and I was ravished with what I was told."
"I have been there," said Brenda. "I have spent the day; my sister is aspecial friend of Miss Beverley."
"Not so very special," whispered Mademoiselle, something like a littlesnake at that moment, in Brenda's ear. Brenda turned and looked full ather. Their eyes met. It seemed at that instant that these two--theyoung girl and the experienced woman--crossed swords, and that Brendagot the worst of the encounter. There was a pause for a minute. Thenshe said, quietly:
"I don't know with regard to the depth of the friendship, but I onlyknow that my sweet sister Penelope is staying at the Castle, and that itis--oh, well--a very nice sort of place. I _could_ imagine morebeautiful places."
"Windsor Castle, perhaps," whispered Mademoiselle, at which remark MissPrice tittered audibly.
"But tell us, dear," said Mrs Simpkins. "I have been thinking all dayabout it. I assure you that the thought of your return has kept me upalthough the heat is fearful, and Georgie is so cross, and little Petercutting another tooth--oh dear! Of course I love my children, butsometimes they seem to do things just to spite you; for the doctor toldme flat that Peter's eye-teeth would not be due for another two months,and I made certain that we'd have our seaside holiday over before hebegan on it. The aggravation of eye-teeth is almost past bearing. Ioften say if a woman can live through the eye-teeth of her children,she'll live through anything. But there--I am digressing. Go on, MissCarlton, do."
"What did you have to eat?" said Mrs Dawson. "Was there anything thatspecially took your fancy?"
"Ah, yes--tell us that!" cried Mademoiselle, "for I could copy it forthese dear, most select and amiable ladies. I should so love to givethem the benefit of my French experience."
"I don't know what we had to eat," said Brenda. "Perhaps Nina couldtell you to-morrow--she is our greedy one."
"Poor little thing!" said Mrs Simpkins. "You've let her off heraccounts, I see, and that's a blessing. Now, Miss Carlton, you won'ttake it amiss, but if you will allow a motherly body like myself tospeak, you won't be too harsh with that poor child. She's a good child,and means well; and why in the name of goodness she should be pesteredwith that account-book and pencil at all hours of the day beats me."
"Is this what would be so called a secret?" asked Mademoiselle, "for, ifso, I will--to speak in the figurative way--stop up my ears."
"Oh, no," said Brenda, "it is nothing: I am teaching my youngest pupil alesson, and these ladies--even dear Mrs Simpkins--fail to understand."
"Ah--how I you do admire!" said Mademoiselle. "I also have my methods.We, dear Miss Carlton, will have much in common. We will talk togetherof our pupils and our wrongs."
"For my part, I am getting sleepy," said Miss Price, "and theconversation is not nearly so interesting as I hoped it would havebeen."
She looked regretfully at the empty ice plates and thought of the billshe would have to pay at Jones' on the morrow.
"But what did you suppose I would have to talk about?" asked Brenda,putting the last morsel of delicious strawberry ice into her mouth asshe spoke.
"Oh, I'm sure I can't tell. I had a sort of vision of a delightfultime--I thought you'd begin at the very beginning, as they pay in thestory books, and tell us of everything--what he said to her, you know,and what she said to him, and how they were all dressed--"
"And a good lot about the food," interrupted Mrs Simpkins. "I'm greaton nice food myself, and it's delightful to think that a good-naturedFrench body has come to stay here--"
"I will make you," interrupted Mademoiselle, "of the _salade_ the mostenjoyable with a taste of mayonnaise, that cannot be compounded exceptby a person born in _la belle France_."
"You mustn't let Georgie see it, then," said Mrs Simpkins, "for if heswallows even a morsel of anything Frenchy, he'll be done for!"
"I could fancy it myself," said Miss Price. "I am very much obligedindeed to Mademoiselle for thinking of making us a proper French salad."
"And so am I, although you oughtn't to trouble yourself," said MrsDawson, who began to perceive that Mademoiselle might be exceedinglyuseful to her.
"Well, ladies," said Brenda, rising, "I think I will go to bed. I am alittle tired to-night, for we have been out so much. It was sweet ofyou, Miss Price, to give us those delicious ices. I have never enjoyedanything better. Doubtless, to-morrow, when I am refreshed, I shallhave numerous little anecdotes to tell each of you in turn, but notbefore the children. It is so bad for children, too, to hear theirfriends gossiped about."
"I agree with them sentiments," said Mrs Simpkins. "I wouldn't haveGeorgie listen to the tell-tales between me and Maria--that's my maid athome--for all the world. Why, he'd have it out to his pa at his nextmeal for certain."
"I'll tell you each in confidence," said Brenda, "and," she added, "Idaresay there'll be plenty of fresh news for the future, for I expect togo constantly to Castle Beverley, and my sister is coming to spend theday with me soon."
"Not Penelope, my most adored one!" cried Mademoiselle. "Do you say,dear Miss Carlton, that I am to see my sweetest pupil so soon?"
"I don't know the exact
day," said Brenda, "but you will see her if youhappen to stay here."
"Stay here?" said Miss Price. "Of course we trust Mademoiselle willstay! It is delightful to have a real Frenchwoman in the house."
"I said this place was home," said Mademoiselle, raising her eyesceilingward.
Brenda went up to her room. There she found all the girls alreadydisposed of in their
