grace in the garden.'

Madame was plainly in a high state of exultation. Her audience had
evidently been satisfactory, and, like other people, when things went well,
her soul lighted up into a sulphureous good-humour, not very genuine nor
pleasant, but still it was better than other moods.

I was glad when our calisthenics were ended, and Madame had returned to her
apartment, so that I had a pleasant little walk with Cousin Monica.

We women are persevering when once our curiosity is roused, but she gaily
foiled mine, and, I think, had a mischievous pleasure in doing so. As we
were going in to dress for dinner, however, she said, quite gravely--

'I am sorry, Maud, I allowed you to see that I have any unpleasant
impressions about that governess lady. I shall be at liberty some day to
explain all about it, and, indeed, it will be enough to tell your father,
whom I have not been able to find all day; but really we are, perhaps,
making too much of the matter, and I cannot say that I know anything
against Madame that is conclusive, or--or, indeed, at all; but that there
are reasons, and--you must not ask any more--no, you must not.'

That evening, while I was playing the overture to Cenerentola, for the
entertainment of my cousin, there arose from the tea-table, where she and
my father were sitting, a spirited and rather angry harangue from Lady
Knollys' lips; I turned my eyes from the music towards the speakers; the
overture swooned away with a little hesitating babble into silence, and I
listened.

Their conversation had begun under cover of the music which I was making,