"That is not right."
Élise looked somewhat rebuked, but more puzzled.
"How old are you?" she asked.
This was too much. Miss Hartwell could not conceal her astonishment. She recovered quickly and answered, with a smile:
"I was twenty-five, last February."
Élise resumed her examination of the water-colours. There was a look of satisfaction on her face.
"Oh, well, perhaps when I get to be as old as that I won't get mad, either. How did you learn to make flowers?" Her attention was fixed all the time on the colours.
"I took lessons."
"Is it very hard to learn?"
"Not very, for some people. Would you like to have me teach you?"