Oh! it was bitter to think that she had done it, she who loved Mademoiselle so, and knew and understood her, who meant to have been such a comfort to her. Poor Esther was heartbroken as she realised it all. Something must be done, she determined. She must do something to undo some of the mischief. She could not let things go on like this; it was too dreadful. They turned to her full of inquiries. Where did Mademoiselle Leperier live? What did she look like? Who lived with her? etc. etc. Esther set her lips tight. They should get no more out of her. In the first place she could decline to tell them where Mademoiselle lived. If they determined to find out, she must find some means of preventing their going. When Miss Row had asked three or four questions and got no answer, she began to grow annoyed. "What is the matter with you, child? Why don't you speak when you are spoken to? Don't you know how rude it is?" "Yes, I do know," said Esther, in a very trembling voice, "and I am very sorry, but I am not going to tell any one anything more about Mademoiselle. I--I ought not to have said anything. I promised her I wouldn't. I am _very_ sorry I did--" "Dear me! dear me! how important we are!" cried Miss Row, whose temper was far from being one of the best. "Let me inform you that we all knew of Mademoiselle Leperier before you were born, and Mr. Somerset knew her personally--" Mr. Somerset stepped forward, colouring a little. "I--I am afraid I can hardly claim that much," he said hastily. "She was so great and so sought after, and--and so exclusive, it was difficult to get to know her-- unless,"--with a smirk--"one were a celebrity too." Miss Row looked at him as crossly as she had at Esther. She hated to find herself mistaken at all. "But I thought," he went on hastily, "I would very much like to see this celebrity of a past generation, the heroine of such a romance, in her--ah --in her retirement. Perhaps she would not be so exclusive now. A chat with her would be most interesting--such valuable 'copy.' I really must try to accomplish it. Shall we call, dear Miss Row? I am sure you and she would be mutually pleased." Esther's feelings became too much for her. She did not know what 'copy' meant; but she felt certain that this kind of person was the very last Mademoiselle would wish to see. "Oh, please don't," she cried anxiously. "Please, you mustn't go there. Mademoiselle herself told me she did not want any visitors, and Anne told me she came here on purpose that she might be quite quiet, because she can't see them. Please don't go. If people call she will go away-- I'm sure she will. Anne says she had to move from ever so many places because people would not let her be quiet. _Please_ don't let her know that I said she lived here. I did not mean to--"