"Ah, well! I must perforce agree. It is large--it is ruinous! But what shall I do? Where there is no choice, one must put up with the inevitable. I will do for you, Madame, all that I would have done had you taken this lonely one for twelve or fifteen shillings a week. I will still entertain your visitors, and teach you the recipes of my own land, and go errands for you and make myself, in truth, your valued friend." "Thank you, very much," said Mrs Dawson, "but it isn't my habit to trouble my visitors. Of course I always value a pleasant person at table, but otherwise I do my own housekeeping and I go my own messages." "Ah--Madame! you know me not yet. You will yet esteem my services. What a delicious cool _appartement_ is your own!" The room was steaming hot, and poor Mrs Dawson's face testified to the fact. Mademoiselle, however, was in the best of humours. She hurried away to fetch her luggage--that small packet which she had carried in one hand while she dragged Pauline Hungerford along the platform with the other; and she had sat down and made herself quite one of the family by the time supper was announced. During supper, she caused the entire company to convulse with laughter. She told one funny story after another, entreating them to laugh their hearts full and not to mind her poor English, which she would speak better if she knew how. In short, she was established as a most agreeable addition to Number 9, Palliser Gardens by the time the Beverleys' wagonette drew up at the door with the three little Amberleys and Brenda Carlton ensconced within. As the ladies had gone out to see Miss Carlton off, so did the ladies once more reassemble to witness Miss Carlton's return. She was certain that she would feel to her dying day that she had achieved this, at least, with flying colours. The very look of the coachman on the box and of the footman as he flung open the door and helped the three awkward girls to descend, had such a paralysing effect upon the members of Mrs Dawson's boarding-house, that they were all silent for a moment. "That will do," said Brenda, as she shook out her white skirts on the steps. Then the coachman turned homewards, and after that, all tongues were loosened. Brenda was almost carried into the house by the other boarders. "Come straight into the drawing-room," said Miss Price, "and tell us all about it. Oh, by the way, may I introduce you to a most charming addition to our circle, Mademoiselle d'Etienne. Mademoiselle arrived to-day. Mademoiselle, this is Miss Brenda Carlton." "I have the so great pleasure to know your sister," said Mademoiselle, in a small, distinct voice, fixing her black eyes on Brenda's face. "You know Penelope?" cried Brenda. "I have the so immense honour to educate that fascinating young lady in that elegant tongue of my beloved France. She is an obedient pupil and does to me credit."