"Who did you go to meet?"
"I'd rather not say. Please."
"Was it anybody from school?"
"No, Madame."
"Did anybody at school have anything to do with it?"
"No, Madame. There wasn't anybody else but me."
"And you can't tell me who it was you went to meet?"
"No. I'm sorry."
"Philippa," Madame said slowly. "I know you've been trying hard and
that the going has been rough for you. I understand your need for
interests outside the school. But the rules we have here are all for a
definite purpose and they were not made to be lightly broken."
"I wasn't breaking them lightly, Madame."
"Once a girl ran away and was killed crossing the railroad tracks. They
are dangerous, especially after dark. You see they are placed out of
bounds for a very good reason. And if there's anybody you want to see
outside school it's not difficult to get permission. If you were one
of the senior girls I might think you were slipping away to meet one
of the boys from the school up the mountain. But I know that's not the
case. I don't like having to give penalties and if you'll tell me about
it I promise you I'll be as lenient as I can."
But Flip's thoughts were rushing around in confusion, and she thought,
if I tell now they'll never give me permission to see Paul.
So she just shook her head while she continued to stare helplessly at
the art teacher.
Madame started to speak again, but just then the telephone rang and she
went over to it. "Yes?... Yes, Signorina!" She listened for a moment,
then burst out laughing and continued the conversation in Italian. Flip
could tell that she was pleased and rather excited about something.
They talked for a long time and Flip could tell that Madame was asking
Signorina a great many questions. When she hung up she turned to Flip,
and her face was half smiling, half serious. "Philippa," she said, "I
know I can trust you."
"Yes, Madame."
"And I want you to prove yourself worthy of my trust. Will you?"
"I'll try, Madame."
"So it's Paul you've been running off to meet," Madame Perceval said
with a smile.