"I thought you'd be coming about now. There's coffee in the dining-room. Come along at once." "But how is the good gentleman?" said Mademoiselle. Charley started and turned crimson at the sound of her voice. I introduced him as my brother, and Mademoiselle as Mademoiselle Wrex, a French teacher at our school. Charley mumbled something. I think he longed for Von Marlo's presence, for Von Marlo never lost his head on any occasion whatever. The next instant I did see his rather uncouth figure and kindly, plain face advancing through the hall to meet me. "Now, I said you'd come; I knew you'd come without delaying one minute. How do you do. Miss Rachel?" Mademoiselle looked at him and uttered a little cry. "Why, Max!" she cried. "Max!" Then she held out both her hands, and they were both engrossed with one another; they were doubtless old friends. Charley dragged me into the dining-room. "How is father?" I said. "Oh, he is rather bad; but there are plenty of doctors, and we hope to pull him through." "And my step-mother?" "Rachel, she is a brick! She is about the best and dearest woman in all the world. I never knew her like. She has been up with him all the week, and never thinks of herself at all." "But, oh, here comes Alex--dear Alex!" Alex came up to me. In this moment of universal anxiety he was delighted to see me again; he kissed me several times. "Why, you have grown," he said, "and you look so--" "She looks awfully nice," said Von Marlo. He had come in dragging Mademoiselle with him. "Mademoiselle Wrex is my mother's cousin," he said. "I am delighted to see her." Mademoiselle was also all enthusiasm. "Why, the dear, dear boy," she said, "it is indeed a pleasure to see him in this so desolate country. It is a joy of the inconceivable." Her broken English made both Charley and Alex laugh; but then Alex pulled the bell, and our neat parlour-maid brought in our breakfast. I sat down to eat. I felt still as though in a dream. Was I in Paris, or in the old house, or in altogether new surroundings? I rubbed my eyes. "You're dead-tired," said Von Marlo. "I am bewildered," I said. "But I must catch the next train back," said Mademoiselle. This roused the boys from any present thought of me. They were all bustle and activity, seeing to Mademoiselle's wants. She had very little time to spare. She would take the ten o'clock express from Victoria, and be back in Paris in less than twenty-four hours after she had left it. As I bade her good-bye it seemed to me that I was slipping more and more from the old landmarks. "Give my love to Hermione and Augusta," I said. "And to, perhaps, poor Riki?" said Mademoiselle. "Yes, if she will have it," I answered. "Things will go well with you now, and when you return there will be rejoicing," said Mademoiselle. But I did not think, somehow, that I should ever return; and Mademoiselle got into the cab and was whirled away.