"Yes," answered Miss Johnstone, her lips parting with acrimony. "She is one of my pupils."
"One of your pupils! How is it she took no notice of you?"
Miss Johnstone made no reply, but the acrimony on her lips grew sharper: very sharp indeed when she saw Emily escorted home by M. de Mellissie, with Mrs. Trehern's maid in attendance.
The explosion came next day. Miss Johnstone lodged a formal complaint in private before the Miss Barlieus. Miss Chandos, she felt perfectly certain, was being made clandestine love to by Monsieur Alfred de Mellissie!
"Seated at the table d'hôte with the young man!—accompanied by him home afterwards!" cried Mademoiselle Annette. "It is not to be believed."
Miss Johnstone said it was, and called me as a witness. Emily Chandos was commanded to the salon, and questioned.
She could not deny it; she did not attempt it: rather braved it out.
"Where was the harm of it, Mademoiselle Annette? Monsieur de Mellissie did not attempt to eat me."
"You know that the customs and ideas of our country are against this kind of thing," emphatically pronounced Miss Barlieu. "I am surprised at you, Mademoiselle Emily; you have deceived us. I shall write to Miladi your mother to-day. If she sanctions this public visiting, I cannot. I cannot possibly allow any young lady in my establishment to run the risk of being talked of as imprudent. You will not go to Mrs. Trehern again; she has shown herself little capable of taking care of you."
"Do you mean, Mademoiselle, that I am not to go out in future when invited?" asked Emily, her heart beating visibly.