know, my dear, that I have extremely long ears for this sort ofthing."
And then she tried to draw herself up, and look august; but the vulgarold thing only made herself more common and obtrusive, while I began totremble in the most agitated manner.
"Miss Furness tells me, Miss Bozerne--" she continued.
"Oh, how came she to know, I wonder?" I thought to myself.
"Miss Furness tells me," she said again, "of various little acts ofinsubordination, and want of attention to lessons and the instructionshe endeavours to impart--to impart, Miss Bozerne; and you mustunderstand that in my absence the lady assistants of my establishmentare to have the same deference shown them as I insist upon having paidto myself."
And then she went on for ever so long about delegated authority, and agreat deal more of it, until she had worked herself into a regular knot,with her speech all tangled; when she sent me away to the French lesson.And how can I describe my feelings! I don't remember who that was thatput iron bands round his heart to keep it from breaking with sorrow,while they all went off, crack! crack! one after another afterwards,from joy; but I felt when I left Mrs Blunt's room, precisely as thatsomebody must have felt at that time.
To have seen the dignified salute which was exchanged, no one could havethought it possible that a note had ever passed between Monsieur Achilleand poor me. When I took my seat at the bottom of that long table,being the last arrival, not a look, not a glance--only a very sharpreprimand, which brought the tears in my eyes, because my exercise wasnot better; while my translation of English into French was declared tobe _affreux_.
Oh! it did seem so hard, after what I had risked for him the nightbefore; but I soon fired up, as I saw Miss Furness looking quite pleasedand triumphant; for I'm sure the old thing was as jealous as could be,and watched me closely, and all because I would not creep to her, andflatter and fawn, like Celia Blang. So I would not show how wounded Iwas, nor yet look at Achille when he went away, and there was nocommunication at all between us that day.
I felt very much hurt and put out, for that Miss Furness spared no painsto show her dislike to me; and she must have had some suspicion of me,for during many lessons I never had an opportunity of enjoying furthercommunication with dear Achille than a long look. Miss Sloman, as Ihave said before, had always hated me; but she was too much of a nobodyto mind. However, I would not notice Miss Furness's cantankerousness,for I really did not mind a bit about her having told Mrs Blunt, sodelighted was I to feel that the other matter had not been found out;and I went on just the same as usual, and really worked hard with mystudies.
One morning--I can't say when, for though I have tried I really can'trecollect, and the time, names, and things are so mixed up together--however, it was a fine morning, and we were going for one of thosedreary morning two-and-two walks, crawling in and out of the Allshamlanes like a horrible Adam-tempting serpent. I had taken great painswith my dress, for I thought it possible that we might pass Achille'slodging; and, as I fancied he had been unnecessarily angry and cool withme at the last lesson, I wished him to feel a little pain in return, forI was determined not to give him a single look. Mamma had just sent medown one of the prettiest straw-coloured flowery bonnets imaginable--aperfect zephyr, nothing of it at all hardly--and it matched capitallywith my new silk; while the zebra parasol seemed quite to act as arelief. So I put them on with new straw-kid gloves, took the parasol,and then--call it vanity if you like--I stopped and had one last,triumphant glance in the mirror that hangs at one end of the longpassage before I went down.
Mrs Blunt was going with us that day; and, in spite of the latescolding I had received, she was quite smiling and pleasant with me, andI saw her bestow one or two satisfied glances upon my attire--for shenever found fault with her pupils for dressing too well. But I did nottake pains with myself so as to please her, and act as show-card for hernasty old establishment; so I would not look pleased, but pretended thatI had not yet got over the scolding, and was dreadfully mortified, as Iwent and took my place beside Clara.
As we were the two tallest girls, we always went first, and had ourorders to walk slowly, once more, on account of half-a-dozen childrenwho came last with the teachers and Mrs Blunt herself, and so we filedout of the gates and along the winding, green lane.
No one could help feeling happy and light-hearted upon such a beautifulbright morning, especially as we turned through the fields, and wentacross towards the river. The trees were all green, and the grassshining with flowers, birds singing, the sky above a splendid azure, andall around looking quite lovely; while the soft, delicious air fannedone's cheek, so that I could not help agreeing with Clara when, after along silence, she heaved a deep sigh, and said,--
"Oh, how delightful it is to feel young and be in love."
Though, after all, I was not so sure about the last part, for I did notfeel half satisfied concerning my _affaire de coeur_, and was strollingsomewhat listlessly along, when Clara pinched my arm.
"Here they come," she whispered.
And sure enough, there were Achille and the Signor coming towards us;when, I could not help it, all my ill-humour seemed to dart out of myeyes in a moment, and I could do nothing but sigh, and feel that I was ahopeless captive.
As I said before, I could not help it, and was obliged to close my eyes,when a horrible jerk brought me to myself; when there, if Clara had notlet me step right into the ditch beside the path--a dreadfulstinging-nettley place--instead of quietly guiding me, when she mighthave known that my eyes were shut; while before I could extricatemyself, if Achille was not at my side, helping me out and squeezing myhand, so that really, out of self-defence, I was obliged to return thepressure.
"Miss Bozerne!" exclaimed Lady Blunt, pressing up to me, "how couldyou?"
I did not know, so I could not reply; while there were Miss Furness andthe Fraulein--fat, hook-nosed old owl--looking as spiteful as could be.
"She did it on purpose," I heard Miss Furness whisper; while theFraulein nodded her head ever so many times, so that she looked like abird pecking with a hooked beak.
"Mademoiselle is not hurt, _I hope_?" said Achille, in his silkiest,smoothest tones; and there was so much feeling in the way he spoke, thatI quite forgave him.
"Oh, no, not at all, Monsieur Achille," said Lady Blunt.
And then, after a great deal of bowing, we all fell into our placesagain.
"Won't there be a scolding for this!" whispered Clara. "We shall bothhave impositions."
"I don't care," I said, recklessly. "I should not mind if I slippedagain."
"Slipped!" said Clara, satirically; "that was a pretty slip, certainly.I never saw so clumsy a one, but it answered capitally."
"What do you mean?" I said, innocently.
"Oh, of course, you don't know, dear," said Clara, growing more and moresatirical. "But there, never mind, I have both the notes."
"What notes?" I ejaculated, with my heart beginning to beat--oh, sofast!
"Now, don't be a little stupid," said Clara, "when you know all thetime. The Signor dropped them into my parasol, as I held it down halfshut, and there they are--for I have not dared to take them out yet."
And there, sure enough, were two tiny brown paper squares, looking forall the world like packets of garden seeds, so as not to catch any one'seye when they were delivered--tied up, too, with little bits of string,so as not to be in the least like what they were. Though, really, itwas too bad to try and make out that the whole thing was planned, andthat I had slipped on purpose. Now, was it not?
"Why, what dear, lovable ingenuity," I could not help exclaiming. "Andis one for you then, dear?"
"And why not, pray?" exclaimed Clara; "why should not I have notes aswell as somebody, who has her meetings as well?"
"I'm sure I don't," I exclaimed. "How can you say so? Why, you know Idid not meet him."
"Not your fault, my dear," said Clara, sarcastically. "But there, I'mnot complaining; but when I am so open and confidential, I'm sur
e youneed not be so close."
"Now, did you not promise to forget all that?" I said.
"Well, yes, so I did," she replied; "and I won't say any more about it.But this was clever, wasn't it; and I'm sure I give you every credit formanaging that slip so well."
"Indeed--indeed--indeed--indeed!" I said, "it was an accident."
But it was no use whatever; and the more I protested, the more thetiresome thing would not believe me; till I grew so cross I could havepinched her, only that I could not afford to quarrel just then.
By means of changing parasols, I obtained possession of my note; andthen, how long the time did seem before we received our orders to turnback! But I learnt,