Every word he spoke was in Annette's favor, and I felt that another burden was on my life. If I could not cope with Barbara alone, how much less able was I to cope with her now that she had such an ally as this sly creature? At five o'clock they came in together, my wife flushed and elated, Annette quiet and placid as usual. "I have had a lovely day," said Barbara, as Annette assisted her to disrobe. "I suppose my dear boy has been running all over the city in search of me." "You are mistaken," I replied. "I have not searched for you at all." "I am not going to believe everything you say, you bad boy," she said, darting into the bedroom. I divined the reason; it was to ascertain whether the padlocks on her boxes had been tampered with. Reassured on this point, she resumed her chatter. "How lonely my dear boy must have been! I declare he has been smoking. Annette, give me my cloves. Will you have one, John? No? Is it not good of Annette to accept the situation I offered her? She will travel with us to Switzerland and Italy, and will tell us all we want to know about the hotels there, and what is worth seeing, and what not. She will save you no end of money. And what a perfect lady's maid she is! I wonder what possessed me to leave England without one; but I am glad now that I did not engage one there, for I could not have got anybody half so handy and clever as Annette." While my wife was speaking Annette made no sign, and nothing in her manner indicated that she understood what was being said in her praise. Had she been a stone image she could not have shown less interest. This was carrying acting too far, for her name being frequently mentioned, she would naturally have exhibited some curiosity. "And only thirty-five pounds a year," my wife continued, and would have continued her prattle had I not interrupted her. "I should like to speak to you alone, Barbara." "We are alone, you dear boy." I looked towards the imperturbable woman she had engaged. "Oh, do you object to Annette? What difference can she make? She understands no language but her own." "I should prefer to be alone with you." "To say disagreeable things, I suppose, when there are no witnesses present. Oh, I know you. She shall not go." "Do you think it right to oppose me in such a small matter? Surely we ought to keep our quarrels to ourselves." "Who is quarreling?" she retorted. "I am not. And as to what is right and wrong, I am as good a judge as you." "Annette," said I, addressing the woman in French, "leave the room." "Oui, monsieur," she replied, with perfect submissiveness, and was about to go when my wife said: "Annette, remain here."