Directly after I gave such a jump, for there was the crunching of a step upon the gravel sweep, and I felt the blood all flush up in my face again; for it was his step--his, and it seemed that he was to be brought in, and we were to be confronted, and there would be quite a _denouement_; but then I felt as brave as could be, for was not he close at hand to take my part? And I felt ready to say things that I could not have uttered, and to hear scoldings that would have killed me five minutes before. I was just feeling ready to sink through the carpet when the old wretch raised her head. "Ah! there's Monsieur Achille," she cried in a decisive tone, and now I felt as if it must be coming. But no, the tiresome old thing still kept me upon the thorns of suspense; while I heard the front door squeak and his step in the hall, the opening and closing of a door, and I felt as if I could have rushed to meet him and tell him of the horrible state of fear that I had been in; besides which, I knew that he would have a _corrected exercise_ to return me, and I was burning to see what he would say. "And now, Miss Bozerne," said Mrs Blunt, laying down her pen, and crossing her hands upon the table, so as to show her rings, while she spoke in the most stately of ways--"and now Miss Bozerne, I have a crow to--er--er--I have, that is to say, a few words to speak to you concerning something that has lately, very lately, come to my ears; and you know, my dear, that I have extremely long ears for this sort of thing." And then she tried to draw herself up, and look august; but the vulgar old thing only made herself more common and obtrusive, while I began to tremble in the most agitated manner. "Miss Furness tells me, Miss Bozerne--" she continued. "Oh, how came she to know, I wonder?" I thought to myself. "Miss Furness tells me," she said again, "of various little acts of insubordination, and want of attention to lessons and the instruction she endeavours to impart--to impart, Miss Bozerne; and you must understand that in my absence the lady assistants of my establishment are to have the same deference shown them as I insist upon having paid to myself." And then she went on for ever so long about delegated authority, and a great deal more of it, until she had worked herself into a regular knot, with her speech all tangled; when she sent me away to the French lesson. And how can I describe my feelings! I don't remember who that was that put iron bands round his heart to keep it from breaking with sorrow, while they all went off, crack! crack! one after another afterwards, from joy; but I felt when I left Mrs Blunt's room, precisely as that somebody must have felt at that time.