"Oh! have I let the cat out of the bag?" said Hermione. "Didn't you
know you were going?"
"There!" I said; "and yet you tell me to like her. Has she been
planning this?"
"It is awfully wrong of me to speak of it; but I thought, of course, you
knew."
"But I don't want to go."
"Oh, won't you, though? Now look here, Dumps. You mustn't make a fuss;
you must be patient; you must--you really must--for I am going with you.
It's to a jolly, jolly school in Paris. We'll have a nice time--I know
we shall."
"Paris?" I said.
Now, what London girl doesn't own to a secret hankering for Paris--Paris
the gay, the fascinating, the beautiful? Nevertheless, after my first
shock of pleasure I was very wary. I said after a pause, "Perhaps you
had better not say any more."
"No, I won't, as you didn't know. It's very odd; you'll be told
probably to-morrow."
"I suppose so," I said.
There came a knock at the door. Hermione said, "Come in;" and Augusta
intruded her face.
"It seems a great pity you should be here," she said. "I thought I'd
tell you."
"Come in, Miss Moore; make yourself at home," said Hermione.
"Thank you so much," said Augusta, "but I couldn't come in."
"And why not?" asked Hermione.
"Because he is talking--he is lecturing downstairs. We are all
listening.--I thought it would be such a frightful deprivation for you,
Dumps, not to hear him. I rushed upstairs; he was blowing his nose--I
think he has a cold. I must go back at once. Do come down, if you
don't want to miss it. It's about the time of Herodotus; it's most
fascinating--fascinating!" She banged the door after her and rushed
away.
"Is that poor girl mad?" said Hermione slowly.
"I think so," I answered. "She has conceived a violent worshipping
attachment to father. She thinks he is the soul of genius."
"Well, he is, you know. You, as his daughter, can really hold a most
distinguished position; and now that you have got such a step-mother as
Miss Donnithorne, and you yourself are to be sent to--oh, I forgot, that
subject is taboo. Well, never mind; when you come out you will have
quite a good time, Dumps, I can tell you. Your step-mother means to do
the right thing both by you and the boys. You will have a splendid
time, so just do cheer up and be thankful for the blessings which
Providence has showered upon your head."