“I mean what are you going to do next term, petite?”
“Next term?”
“We want to know about your plans.”
“But I remain now with my parents till my marriage!”
“Petite!!! Fancy never telling us.”
Exclamations clustered round from all over the room.
“Why should I tell?”
“We didn’t even know you were engaged!”
“But of course. Certainly I marry. I know quite well who is to marry me.”
The room was taking leave of Mademoiselle almost in silence. The English were standing together. Miriam heard their voices. “’Dieu, m’selle, ’dieu, m’selle,” one after the other and saw hands and wrists move vigorously up and down. The Germans were commenting, “Ah, she is engaged—ah, what—en-gaged. Ah, the rascal! Hör mal——”