"Did you know you were out of bounds, Philippa?" Madame Perceval asked her. She shook her head. "I didn't remember where the bounds were." Then she added, "but I was pretty sure I was out of them." Signorina stood looking at her with the serene half-smile that seldom left her face even when she had to cope with the dullest and most annoying girls in her Italian classes. "Where were you going, little one?" "Back to school." "Where from?" "I was--walking." "Was it necessary to go out of bounds on your walk?" Madame Perceval asked coldly. "Mlle. Dragonet is very severe with girls who cross the railroad tracks." Flip remembered the walk on which she had first met Ariel, and how, somehow, it had been necessary to go up, up, the mountain. "I wanted to climb." "Were you alone?" Madame Perceval looked at her piercingly but the dark hid the girl's expression. When she hesitated, Madame pursued, "Did you meet anyone?" "Yes," Flip answered so low that she could scarcely be heard. "You'd better come back to the school with me," Madame Perceval said. She turned to Signorina. "Go along, Signorina. Tell them I'll come when I can." In silence Flip followed Madame down the mountain. When she slipped on a piece of ice and her long legs went flying over her head, Madame helped her to pick herself up and brush off the snow, but she said nothing. They left the trees and crossed the lawn, covered with patches of snow, and went into the big Hall. Madame Perceval led the way upstairs, and Flip followed her, on up the five flights and down the hall to Madame's own rooms. Madame switched on the lights and when she spoke her voice was suddenly easy and pleasant. "Sit down, Philippa." Flip's spindly legs seemed to collapse under her like a puppy's as she sat on the stool in front of the fire. "Now," Madame went on. "Can you tell me about it?" Flip shook her head and stared miserably up at Madame, "No, Madame." "Who did you go to meet?" "I'd rather not say. Please." "Was it anybody from school?" "No, Madame." "Did anybody at school have anything to do with it?" "No, Madame. There wasn't anybody else but me." "And you can't tell me who it was you went to meet?" "No. I'm sorry." "Philippa," Madame said slowly. "I know you've been trying hard and that the going has been rough for you. I understand your need for interests outside the school. But the rules we have here are all for a definite purpose and they were not made to be lightly broken." "I wasn't breaking them lightly, Madame."