"Oh, he wasn't an ass, Jimmy. He was a splendid-looking man. He was one of the Gardes Municipales who was on duty at the Opera. I saw him three times. Before that it was one of the clergy at the English Church. Now I've begun I may as well tell you everything. Before that there was a driver of a _fiacre_ who used to stand in the Place Saint Sulpice, but he was much too old--about sixty-five, I should think, and that didn't last long. Before that--oh, but I can't tell you any more. I'm glad I've made a clean breast of it, though. _You_ understand it all, I know, and can make allowances." "I can't make allowances for that sort of rotten business," said Jimmy stiffly. "You're the last girl I should have thought would have mucked about like that. If that's the way you behave yourself in Paris, I don't think you ought to be allowed to go back there." "I don't suppose I should be allowed, if Dad knew. Of course, as I told you, it's all over now; but I don't know what will happen when I get back to Paris. I may see somebody else, and not be able to help myself. There's rather a handsome violin teacher who comes to teach one of the girls--but I mustn't give away other people's secrets, and she has left now. I shall be the only one to learn the violin next term." "You don't play the violin." "I asked Dad if I might, and he said I could." "Barbara!" Jimmy stopped in the path again, with the evident intention of expressing himself with weight and fervour. But he had only got out the sentence. "You will _not_ learn the violin next term," when Young George arrived on the scene. "What's up?" he asked. "You look as if you were having a row." "Jimmy objects to my learning the violin," said Barbara. "I'm sure I don't know why." "You know very well why," said Jimmy. "Do you wish me to tell George the reason why I object?" "Yes, if you've got one." "She has taken a fancy to the violin teacher," said Jimmy. "She actually acknowledges it, and says--" "Why shouldn't I acknowledge it?" interrupted Barbara. "She's a very clever teacher, and took the First Prize at the Conservatoire." "You can't get out of it like that," said Jimmy hotly. "If there's a woman there's a man too. You said so. And what about the cab-driver, and the bobby, and the curate? It's a good deal too serious for me to keep it to myself, and I shall tell George everything you told me." "Yes, you tell him all about it, dear," said Barbara. "I can't stay any longer. I must go to B. Good-bye, little man." The time came for Beatrix to go off. A great crowd had collected in the hall, through which she made her way laughing, and round the carriage that was to take her to the station. Before her husband handed her into it she threw her arm round her father's neck. "Good-bye, my precious old Daddy," she said. "I'll write to you the very first thing." CHAPTER XV AN ACCIDENT