‘And what if he should?’ she exclaimed, raising her voice from sheer obstinacy, until it reached every corner of the house. ‘I say nothing I am ashamed of; but I don’t judge people before I see them, as you foolish young creatures do! I take no one on trust. I want to see my money before I give over my goods; and so I say, let him that pays quickest be soonest served.’ Mr. Lovett had conducted Mr. Charteris upstairs by a more imposing route than that which led through the kitchen, although we seldom used it because it entailed going through the garden. But I was very glad he had adopted it this evening, since it permitted me to reach my own room without encountering them again. As I entered it I drew myself up firmly, and knew that I must be brave, at least for the next few hours. I dared not stay to think: the opportunity had not yet arrived for the indulgence of such a luxury. All I had to do was to brace my nerves to meet Cave Charteris in the careless forgetful spirit in which he had evidently met me, and to ignore for the time being that we had ever dreamt of becoming more to one another than we were that night. I admired the coolness with which he had stood the shock of meeting me; at that moment I could not believe that his affected nonchalance was _real_—and I would imitate it to the best of my ability. So, in a few minutes, I descended to the _salle_ again, looking as much as possible like my usual self! I found the girls alone there, the gentlemen not having yet returned. ‘What do you think of him?’ asked Tessie eagerly, as I entered. ‘Do you not find him very handsome and distinguished-looking? He appears a true Englishman to me, with his fair yellowish hair and those very blue eyes!’ ‘_Bah!_’ exclaimed Madame Marmoret, who had just brought in a dish of trout and laid it on the table. ‘What is the good of an Englishman over another man, except that he has more money and is a greater fool, so that he parts with it easier.’ ‘You are not very complimentary, Madame,’ said Ange. ‘You seem to forget that we are English.’ ‘I wish I could, _petite_ Ange! ’tis the worst part about you—except the want of money.’ ‘You are always talking about money, Madame. Monsieur l’Abbé would tell you, you should not think so much about it. I am sure we have as much as we require.’ ‘That is as it may be!’ grumbled Madame, ‘but other people have not as much as _they_ require, perhaps—_voyez_? Mère Fromard could tell you a different story if you were to ask her.’ ‘Madame!’ interposed Tessie, in a tone of remonstrance, which sent the servant muttering out of the _salle_. ‘You are a greedy old pig!’ called out Ange playfully after her, but Tessie seemed to be afraid of what the pleasantry might lead to, for she drew the little maid to one side and bade her be silent.