Miss Coyle retained her original views of Miss Harefield’s character. Although strictly conservative by profession, as became a lady of ancient family, Miss Coyle had that kind of radicalism which consists in detesting every one better off than herself. She cherished a savage hatred of Beatrix, considering it an injustice in the distribution of wealth and power that a young woman of twenty should have ten thousand a year, and a fine old mansion at her sole disposal, while she, Dulcinea Coyle, should be cabined, cribbed, and confined in a cottage hardly big enough for a dovecote. True that the cottage was pretty, and that Miss Coyle was fond and proud of it; but she would have been fonder and prouder of the Water House. Then Miss Coyle’s income, being of that strictly limited order which renders the outlay of every sixpence a matter demanding foresight and careful calculation, naturally gave rise to comparisons with the revenue of Miss Harefield, which was large enough for the wildest extravagance. This sense of a wrong adjustment of fortune, together with the fact of Mrs. Dulcimer’s desertion, rankled in Miss Coyle’s breast, and whereas other people in Little Yafford had left off talking or thinking about Christian Harefield’s daughter, Miss Coyle continued to think about her, and took every convenient occasion of talking. She was not even inclined to let Miss Harefield’s companion go free. She happened to meet Madame Leonard one afternoon at the house of Mrs. Scratchell, whom it was her custom to honour once or twice a year with a patronizing call. This was too good an opportunity to be lost. Miss Coyle rather prided herself on her acquaintance with the French language, in which she had been thoroughly ‘grounded’ five-and-forty years ago at an expensive boarding school. A good deal of the ground had given way during those forty-five years, but Miss Coyle did not know that. She was not at all afraid of addressing Madame Leonard, who had been carrying on a friendly conversation with Mrs. Scratchell, with the aid of a little interpretation by Bella. Miss Coyle contrived to leave the Scratchell domicile in company with Madame Leonard. ‘Je marcherai avec vous si vous n’avez pas d’objection,’ began Miss Coyle, politely. Madame Leonard declared that she would be charmed, ravished. Her manner implied that Miss Coyle’s society was the one delight that she had longed for ever since her arrival in Little Yafford. ‘Comment est Mademoiselle Harefield?’ asked Miss Coyle. Madame Leonard looked mystified. A stupid person evidently, Miss Coyle thought. ‘Vous es la nouveau gouvernesse de Mademoiselle, n’est ce pas?’ ‘Mais, oui, Madame, je suis heureuse de me nommer sa dame de compagnie.’ ‘Comment est elle? Est elle plus facile dans son esprit?’ Madame Leonard looked at a loss to comprehend this question.