"Charles Wargrave!" repeated the lady, with a mixture of consternation and incredulity. "And you're not ashamed to tell me that?" she cried. "You can stand and look me in the face?" Claire had not looked her in the face, but at these words she raised her head and met Mrs Wargrave's angry eyes. She was pale, but she did not flinch. Now it was all over, she knew. This house, which might have been more or less hers for five years, the salary which had helped to maintain her mother, the freedom from care for so long,--all was over! When she went out of these doors it would be to face the world again, to find another means of subsistence, to begin anew. Mrs Wargrave turned and left the room, and Mademoiselle saw nothing of her till next day, when in the morning, before the lessons had begun, she was summoned down-stairs. To her surprise she found Mr Leicester Wargrave, as well as his wife, awaiting her in the room which they called the library. He was seated at the writing-table with some papers before him, she standing beside him. With some ceremony a chair was placed for her, and she was asked to sit down. "We will not detain you long, Mademoiselle," Mr Wargrave said, clearing his throat; and Mrs Wargrave, too, coughed and cleared hers before she began. "Mademoiselle, you will not wonder that I thought it right to consult my husband about what you said last night. He thinks you must have made a mistake. His cousin is not at all that kind of man." Claire's countenance lighted up with sudden indignation. "I have made no mistake," she said. "Ladies are apt to think, when a young man is just amusing himself, that he means something. Anyhow, of course we can't pass it over." "Pass it over!" "I mean--that we think your going to Paris a very good plan; and perhaps, if you could find something there that would suit you, it would be better for you--to be within reach of your mother." "You mean that I am not wanted here again?" "It is not so decided as that. I'm sure we're both very sorry that any unpleasantness should have arisen, and both Mr Wargrave and I think you have behaved very well, Mademoiselle. You have nothing to reproach yourself with, and we'll be delighted to answer any inquiries. But, on the whole, I think, if you could find something in Paris, or thereabouts--where you could be nearer your mother--I do think you would find it--a relief to your mind." "You are, no doubt, right, Mrs Wargrave," said Mademoiselle, rising from her chair. "Yes, I'm sure I'm right: and Mr Wargrave has written a cheque--for the difference, you know. And if you would like Sarah to help you with your boxes--we thought you might, perhaps, like to go by the night train." CHAPTER VIII.