"Trehern? Trehern?" repeated Mademoiselle Annette. "I don't remember that name on your visiting list."
Emily knew quite well it was not there, since this was the first time she had seen either of the parties: but she had trusted to the good luck of Mademoiselle Annette's believing that it was.
"Mamma will be so vexed if I do not go. She is very intimate with the Treherns. They have only just arrived at the town, Mademoiselle, and have descended at the Hotel du Lion d'Or."
Which concluding words gave us the clue to Emily's eagerness for the visit. For it was at that renowned hotel that Mr. Alfred de Mellissie had been sojourning since his mother's departure. Mademoiselle Annette was firm.
"You know the rules of the school, my dear. We have heard nothing of these gentlepeople from your mamma, and it is impossible that you can be allowed to go."
Emily Chandos carried back her excuses to the salon, and after school gave vent to her mortification in a private outburst to us.
"Such a dreadful shame, these horrid French rules! As if the Treherns would have poisoned me! But I despatch a letter to mamma to-night to get permission. They are going to stay a month at Nulle. It is the bridal tour."
"Have they just come from England?"
"Not at all. She is French, and never was in England in her life. She is a friend"—dropping her voice still lower—"of the De Mellissies; at least her mother is: it was through Alfred they called upon me to-day."
"Then does Lady Chandos not know them?"