“Oh, but you must not do that!” Mellenger protested confidentially and addressing her in excellent French. “You are a member of this household, while Miss Morrison is a guest here tonight. If Mr. Pritchard were to permit her to go in to dinner on my arm, that would be equivalent to informing her that she was not welcome in his home. It would be a very great discourtesy—in this country,” he added parenthetically.
“Oh! I did not understand that. Nobody has told me these things. I would not care to embarrass anyone.”
“Thank you, Miss Larrieau. You are very kind and considerate.” He bowed to her with great courtesy, and she accepted his arm.
“I like you, Mellengair—no, I will call you Mel, like Dan who loves you.”
“That’s better.”
“And you shall call me Tamea.”
“Thank you. I think that is better, too.”
She came closer to him. “And you will tell me—things?”
“You mean the things you should know in order to avoid embarrassment to yourself—and others?”
“Oui, Mel.”