Our companion, the lady who had brought us, now said something in excellent French, and we got out of the omnibus and followed her up a paved path and through an open doorway into a wide hall. Here a servant appeared, who was told to take us to our rooms. We followed her up some stairs, which were white marble and were uncarpeted. We passed a wide landing where there were some marble figures in the corners, and large palm-trees standing beside them; then again past folding-doors, and through a landing with more marble figures and more palms, until at last we entered through two doors, which were flung open wide, into a pretty little sitting-room. Why do I say little? The room was lofty, and was so simply furnished that it looked much larger than it was. The floor was covered with oak parquetry, and was polished to the most slippery degree. There were a couple of rugs here and there, but no carpet. In the centre of the room was a table covered with a white cloth, and containing knives, forks, glasses, and a bunch of flowers rather carelessly arranged in a vase in the middle. There were heavy chairs in the Louis-Quinze style, with a great deal of gilt about them, and a huge mirror, also with gilt, let into the wall at one side; and exactly opposite the wall was a door, which led into three small bedrooms, all communicating each with the other. "These are your apartments, young ladies," said the governess who had taken us upstairs. "This is your sitting-room, where to-night you will have your supper. You will not see your companions--or I think not-- until the morning. You will be glad to retire to rest, doubtless, as you must have had a long journey. Your supper will come up in a moment or two. If you give your trunks to Justine she will unpack them and put your things away. Ah! here is the bell; if you will ring it when you want anything, Justine, who is the maid whose special duty it is to wait on you, will attend the summons." The governess turned to go away. "But, please," called out Hermione as she was closing the door, "what are we to call you?" "Mademoiselle Wrex." We thanked her, and she vanished. Augusta stood in the middle of the room and clasped her hands. "Well, now, I call this jolly!" I said. "Delightful! And how quaint!" said Hermione. "I never thought we should have a sitting-room." "But there isn't a book," remarked Augusta. "Oh, we don't want books to-night, Augusta. Now, do lean on my moral strength and forget everything unpleasant," I said. "Oh! do look out of the window; here's a balcony," cried Hermione. "Let us go out on it when we have had supper." She pushed back the curtains, opened the window, and the next minute she was standing on the little balcony looking down into the crowded street. "Oh! and that house opposite; we can see right into its rooms. What fun! What fun! I do call this life!" cried the girl.