However, she could not long keep out of humor with Victor; he was too full of his jokes, in too rollicking a mood to be withstood, but Lucie would not ask him another word about the secret, though she listened to his plans for holiday making. It was only after he had gone that she questioned Paulette. “I think I should see my father’s letter,” she remarked with dignity.
Paulette smiled, lifted her eyebrows and shrugged her shoulders. “But no, my child. I promised Monsieur Victor that I would not show it.”
“Then it must have some very unpleasant word in it.”
“On the contrary.”
“Of course that Victor likes to tease, but I did not think you, Paulette, would be unkind to your Lucie.”
Paulette’s sly look of amusement vanished. “I, unkind? I would not be that, my pigeon. Now, what would you? I promise monsieur that I will not tell because he wishes to give you a pleasant surprise. I can say so much, a very pleasant surprise. He is a good lad. Will you then deprive him of this satisfaction, when he has done so much for us? He is quite excited over this, and would be greatly disappointed if I revealed the secret.”
Lucie sighed. “Very well, then, I will not insist. But can you tell how soon I am to know?”
“Let me see. To-morrow we pack. We also go to this meal at the restaurant. That is enough for the day. I think by the day after we may begin our journey. At the end of the journey you will know.”
“Two days, two whole days. Well, there will be so much going on that I will have no time to sit and think about it, there is that to say. We must say good-by to Miss Lowndes. I wonder, by the way, if she knows?”
“Perhaps. I will ask Monsieur Victor.”