We discovered in the course of time our exile's name and nationality,--it was the chaplain who told us,--and also that he was studying for the priesthood; this last information coming from the mistress of recreation, and being plainly designed to dull our interest from the start. She added that he neither spoke nor understood anything but Italian, a statement which we determined to put to the proof as soon as fortune should favour us with the opportunity. The possession of an Italian dictionary became meanwhile imperative, and we had no way of getting such a thing. We couldn't write home for one, because our letters were all read before they were sent out, and any girl would be asked why she had made this singular request. We couldn't beg our mothers, even when we saw them, for dictionaries of a language they knew we were not studying. Lilly said she thought she might ask her father for one, the next time he came to the school. There is a lack of intelligence, or at least of alertness, about fathers, which makes them invaluable in certain emergencies; but which, on the other hand, is apt to precipitate them into blunders. Mr. Milton promised the dictionary, without putting any inconvenient questions, though he must have been a little surprised at the scholarly nature of the request; but just as he was going away, he said loudly and cheerfully:-- "Now what is it I am to bring you next time, children? Mint candy, and handkerchiefs,--your Aunt Helen says you must live on handkerchiefs,--and gloves for Viola, and a dictionary?" He was actually shaking hands with Madame Bouron, the Mistress General, as he spoke, and she turned to Lilly, and said:-- "Lilly, have you lost your French dictionary, as well as all your handkerchiefs?" "No, madame," said poor Lilly. "It's an Italian dictionary she wants this time," corrected Mr. Milton, evidently not understanding why Viola was poking him viciously in the back. "Lilly is not studying Italian. None of the children are," said Madame Bouron. And then, very slowly, and with an emphasis which made two of her hearers quake: "Lilly has no need of an Italian dictionary, Mr. Milton. She had better devote more time and attention to her French." "I nearly fainted on the spot," said Lilly, describing the scene to us afterwards; "and father looked scared, and got away as fast as he could; and Viola was red as a beet; and I thought surely Madame Bouron was going to say something to me; but, thank Heaven! Eloise Didier brought up her aunt to say good-by, and we slipped off. Do you think, girls, she'll ask me what I wanted with an Italian dictionary?" "Say you're going to translate Dante in the holidays," suggested Tony, with unfeeling vivacity. "Say you're going to Rome, to see the Pope," said Marie. "Say you're such an accomplished French scholar, it's time you turned your attention to something else," said Emily. "Say you're making a collection of dictionaries," said the imp, Viola.