Madame laughed and laughed. Finally she said, "I think you and I
had better have another little tea party," and she reached for the
telephone. "Fräulein Hauser," she said, "I am excusing Philippa Hunter
from tea." Then she went into her little kitchen and put the kettle on.
When she came back she said, "Signorina and I were on our way over to
borrow a book from Georges and have a visit with him and Paul when we
bumped into you. Now tell me how you found Paul."
Flip told her about the way Ariel had come jumping out of the
undergrowth at her and how he led her to the chateau and to Paul.
"I see." Madame nodded. "Now tell me what Paul has told you about
himself."
"Why--nothing much," Flip said. "I mean, I know his mother's singing in
Italy and Monsieur Laurens is writing a book and Paul is going to be a
doctor...."
Madame Perceval nodded again. "I see," she repeated thoughtfully. "Now,
Philippa, I suppose you realize that you should be penalized. You've
been breaking rules right and left. It's a pretty serious situation."
"I know, Madame. Please punish me. I can stand anything as long as I
can see Paul again. If I can't see him again I shall die."
"I don't think you'd die, Philippa. And since you're not a senior
you're not allowed to have dates. Not seeing Paul would be automatic
before your penalties were even considered."
The color drained from Flip's face and she stared up at Madame
Perceval, but she did not move or say anything.
Madame spread cheese on a cracker, handed it absently to Flip, and
leaned back in her chair. She held the cheese knife in her hand and
suddenly she slapped it against her palm with a decisive motion. "I'm
not going to forbid you to see Paul, Philippa," she said, "but you will
have to have a penalty and a stiff one, because the fact that it was
Paul you were seeing does not lessen the seriousness of your offense,
but I'll decide on that tomorrow. In the meantime I want to talk to you
about Paul." For a moment Madame Perceval looked probingly at Flip.
Then, as though satisfied with what she saw, she continued. "We've been
worried about Paul, and I think you can help us."
"Me, Madame?" Flip asked.
"Yes, you. Yes, I think you of all people, Philippa."
"But how, Madame?"
"First of all simply by seeing him. Signorina told me that Georges
was planning to get permission for you to come to the gate house to
see Paul once a week. I shall see that you get the permission. And
remember, Philippa, that I am doing this for Paul's sake, not yours."
"Yes, Madame. But Madame--"
"But what, Philippa?"
"Monsieur Laurens asked what Mlle. Dragonet's name was. Wouldn't he
know?"
Madame Perceval laughed. "He was just playing along with Paul. Paul
didn't want you to know he had any connection with the school."
"Oh. But--"
"But what, Philippa?"
"Why are you worried about Paul, Madame?"
"I can't tell you that now, Flip. Paul will let you know himself sooner
or later. In the meantime, the best way that you can help him is to
continue trying to get on with the girls here at school, and to become
really happy here. That sounds like rather a tall order to you, doesn't
it? But I think you can do it. You'd like to, wouldn't you?"
"Oh, Madame, you know I would. But please--I don't see--how would that
help Paul?"
"Perhaps you've discovered already," Madame said, "that Paul has a
horror of anything he can label an institution. He knows that you hate
_this_ institution. Because he respects you, if he could watch you
grow to like it here he might be willing to go back to school himself.
Georges is tutoring him but he needs regular schooling. If he really
wants to be a doctor he cannot dispense with formal education, and I
believe that one day Paul will make a very brilliant doctor. I know
this is all very confusing to you, Philippa, but you must trust me
as I am trusting you. All I can tell you is that I think you can help
Paul and because of this I am willing to disregard the manner in which
you have been seeing him up to now and to see that you have official
permission to see him in the future." Madame Perceval stood up. "You'd
better report to me tomorrow and I'll tell you what your penalties are.
I'm afraid this has been a very slim tea for you, Philippa. If you
hurry down to the dining room there may be a few scraps left."
"I'm not hungry," Flip said. "Thank you for--for everything, Madame."
Madame put her hand on Flip's shoulder. "I'm very glad this happened
to you, Philippa, instead of--say one of your roommates. Very glad."
She was smiling warmly and Flip's heart leaped with joy at this great
praise. Madame gave her a little shove. "Run along now," she said.
9
Flip was ready and waiting in the big Hall when Monsieur Laurens came
for her the next afternoon. The girls were all curious and rather
envious, when, in answer to their questions they learned that Flip had
been given special permission to have tea with Madame's nephew; and she
felt that her stock had gone up with them.
"My aunt, Pill, it's really a date!" Gloria whistled.
"I bet Pill's never been out with a boy before," Esmée said. "Have you,
Pill? Usually the Americans have more dates than the rest of us but
I bet this is Pill's first date. Are you going to let him kiss you,
Pill?"
"Don't be silly," Flip said.
"Anyhow Black and Midnight said it wasn't a date," Sally added. "I bet
this nephew's just a child."
Erna whispered to Flip, "Esmée and Sally're just boy crazy. Don't mind
them. Personally I think boys are dopes."
At the gate house an hour later, Flip and Paul lay on the great rug in
front of the fire and roasted chestnuts while Georges Laurens watched
from his chair, and Ariel rested his head on his master's knee.
"So you don't like school?" Georges Laurens asked Flip.
"No, sir."
"Why not."
"I can't seem to fit in. I'm different."
"And I suppose you despise the other girls?" Georges Laurens asked.
Flip looked surprised for a moment, then hesitated, thinking his
question over as she opened and ate a chestnut. "No. I don't despise
them. I'm just uncomfortable with them," she answered finally, chewing
the delicate tender meat and staring at the delicate unicorn in the
tapestry on the wall above her.
"But you want to be like them anyhow?" Georges Laurens pursued.