that he would apologise if he had offended her, and that all would be
made right. For Mildred had given Miss Brand to understand that M.
Daveau had made love to her; then she said that he had tried to kiss
her, and that it would be unpleasant for her to meet him again. And
her story had been accepted as the true one by the American and
English girls; the other students had assumed that Miss Lawson had
given up painting or had taken a holiday. So she had got herself out
of her difficulty very cleverly. And she listened complacently to Miss
Brand's advice. There was something in what Nellie said. If she were
to meet M. Daveau she felt that she could talk him over. But she did
not know if she could bring herself to try after what had happened....
She hated him, and the desire, as she put it, to get even with him
often rose up in her heart. At last she caught sight of him in the
Louvre. He was looking at a picture on the other side of the gallery,
and she crossed over so that he should see her. He bowed, and was
about to pass on; but Mildred insisted, and, responding to the
question why he had refused her subscription, he said:

'I think I told you at the time that I found myself obliged to reduce
the number of pupils. But, tell me, are you copying here?'

'One doesn't learn anything from copying. Won't you allow me to come
back?'

'I don't see how I can. There are so many ladies at present in the
studio.'

'I hear that some have left? ... Madlle. Berge has left, hasn't she?'

'Yes, she has left.'