"We did not know you had the headache, mamma," said Matilda, "till after they had played several tunes, and we heard Grace saying something to Herbert about racketing upon the stairs--he only ran up stairs once for my music-book; and the moment Grace spoke to him, he came to us, and said that you were not well; then Mad. de Rosier stopped the dulcimer, and we all left off dancing, and we were very sorry Grace had not told us sooner that you were ill: at that time it was ten--nearly eleven o'clock." "Grace strangely misrepresented all this," said Mrs. Harcourt: "as she gave her advice so late, I am sorry she gave it at all; she prevented you and Isabella from the pleasure of going out with Mad. de Rosier." "We prevented ourselves--Grace did not prevent us, I assure you, mamma," said Isabella, eagerly: "we wished to stay at home with you--Herbert and Favoretta were only going to see the royal tiger." "Then you did not stay at home by Mad. de Rosier's desire." "No, indeed, madam," said Mad. de Rosier, who had not appeared in any haste to justify herself; "your children always show you affection by their own desire, never by mine: your penetration would certainly discover the difference between attentions prompted by a governess, and those which are shown by artless affection." "My dear madam, say no more," said Mrs. Harcourt, holding out her hand: "you are a real friend." Mad. de Rosier now went to call Herbert, but on opening the door, Mrs. Grace fell forward upon her face into the room; she had been kneeling with her head close to the key-hole of the door; and, probably, the sound of her own name, and a few sentences now and then spoken in English, had so fixed her attention, that she did not prepare in time for her retreat. "Get up, Grace, and walk in, if you please," said Mrs. Harcourt, with much calmness; "we have not the least objection to your hearing our conversation." "Indeed, ma'am," said Grace, as soon as she had recovered her feet, "I'm above listening to any body's conversations, except that when one hears one's own name, and knows that one has enemies, it is but natural to listen in one's own defence." "And is that all you can do, Grace, in your own defence?" said Mrs. Harcourt. "It's not all I can _say_, ma'am," replied Grace, pushed to extremities; and still with a secret hope that her mistress, _upon a pinch, would not part with a favourite maid_: "I see I'm of no further use in the family, neither to young or old--and new comers have put me quite out of favour, and have your ear to themselves--so, if you please, ma'am, I had better look out for another situation." "If you please, Grace," said Mrs. Harcourt. "I will leave the house this instant, if you think proper, ma'am." "If you think proper, Grace," said her mistress, with immovable philosophy.