"Perhaps you've discovered already," Madame said, "that Paul has a horror of anything he can label an institution. He knows that you hate _this_ institution. Because he respects you, if he could watch you grow to like it here he might be willing to go back to school himself. Georges is tutoring him but he needs regular schooling. If he really wants to be a doctor he cannot dispense with formal education, and I believe that one day Paul will make a very brilliant doctor. I know this is all very confusing to you, Philippa, but you must trust me as I am trusting you. All I can tell you is that I think you can help Paul and because of this I am willing to disregard the manner in which you have been seeing him up to now and to see that you have official permission to see him in the future." Madame Perceval stood up. "You'd better report to me tomorrow and I'll tell you what your penalties are. I'm afraid this has been a very slim tea for you, Philippa. If you hurry down to the dining room there may be a few scraps left." "I'm not hungry," Flip said. "Thank you for--for everything, Madame." Madame put her hand on Flip's shoulder. "I'm very glad this happened to you, Philippa, instead of--say one of your roommates. Very glad." She was smiling warmly and Flip's heart leaped with joy at this great praise. Madame gave her a little shove. "Run along now," she said. 9 Flip was ready and waiting in the big Hall when Monsieur Laurens came for her the next afternoon. The girls were all curious and rather envious, when, in answer to their questions they learned that Flip had been given special permission to have tea with Madame's nephew; and she felt that her stock had gone up with them. "My aunt, Pill, it's really a date!" Gloria whistled. "I bet Pill's never been out with a boy before," Esmée said. "Have you, Pill? Usually the Americans have more dates than the rest of us but I bet this is Pill's first date. Are you going to let him kiss you, Pill?" "Don't be silly," Flip said. "Anyhow Black and Midnight said it wasn't a date," Sally added. "I bet this nephew's just a child." Erna whispered to Flip, "Esmée and Sally're just boy crazy. Don't mind them. Personally I think boys are dopes." At the gate house an hour later, Flip and Paul lay on the great rug in front of the fire and roasted chestnuts while Georges Laurens watched from his chair, and Ariel rested his head on his master's knee. "So you don't like school?" Georges Laurens asked Flip. "No, sir." "Why not." "I can't seem to fit in. I'm different." "And I suppose you despise the other girls?" Georges Laurens asked. Flip looked surprised for a moment, then hesitated, thinking his question over as she opened and ate a chestnut. "No. I don't despise them. I'm just uncomfortable with them," she answered finally, chewing the delicate tender meat and staring at the delicate unicorn in the tapestry on the wall above her. "But you want to be like them anyhow?" Georges Laurens pursued.