Part 17 (2/2)

”'Indeed!' said Mrs Germane, 'what could you have found out?'

”'Well, I will tell you; but you must not mention it again. My maid entered the room the other day, when mademoiselle was receiving a young man who called upon her, and she found them kissing.'

”'You don't say so!'

”'Yes, a kiss was given, and my maid saw it. Now, I can easily make it appear that my maid never mentioned it to me till the time that it may be convenient to make use of it, and then I can send her away; and if any questions are asked, hint at a little impropriety of conduct.'

”'And very properly too,' replied Mrs Germane. 'Had I not better hint a little beforehand to prepare people?'

”'Why, it may be as well, perhaps; but be cautious, very cautious, my dear Mrs Germane.'

”Mademoiselle de Chatenoeuf, I am sorry that I am obliged, in doing my duty to you, to expose mamma,” said Amy, rising up from her chair; ”but I am sure that you could not be guilty of any impropriety, and I will not allow you to be accused of it, if it is to be prevented.”

”Many thanks,” replied I. ”My dear Amy, you have behaved like a kind friend. I have only, in duty to myself, to clear up the charge against me, of impropriety. You must not imagine me guilty of that. It is true that your mother's maid did come in when a young lad of seventeen, who was grateful to me for the interest I took in his welfare, and who was taking leave of me at the time, did raise my hand to his lips and kiss it, and, had he done so before your mother, I should not have prevented it. This was the kiss which, as your mother a.s.serts, pa.s.sed between us, and this is the only impropriety that took place. Oh, what a sad, treacherous, selfish, wicked world this is!” cried I, throwing myself on the sofa, and bursting into tears.

Amy was making every attempt to console me, and blaming herself for having made the communication, when Lady M--came downstairs into the room.

”What is all this--what a scene!” exclaimed she. ”Mademoiselle de Chatenoeuf, have you had any bad news?”

”Yes, my lady,” replied I, ”so bad that I am under the necessity of leaving you directly.”

”Indeed! may I inquire what has happened?”

”No, my lady, it is not in my power to tell you. I have only to repeat, that I must, with your permission, leave this house to-morrow morning.”

”Well, mademoiselle,” replied her ladys.h.i.+p, ”I do not want to pry into your secrets, but this I must say, that where there is concealment, there must be wrong; but I have lately discovered so much, that I do not wonder at concealment--nor am I, indeed, surprised at your wish to leave me.”

”Lady M--,” replied I, haughtily, ”I have never done anything during the time that I have been under your roof which I have to blush for--nor indeed anything that requires concealment. This I can proudly say. If I conceal now, it is to spare others, and, I may add, to spare you. Do not oblige me to say more in presence of your daughter. It will be sufficient for me to hint to you, that I am now aware why I was invited to your house, and what are your plans for dismissing me when it suits you.”

”Eaves-dropping, then, is a portion of your character, mademoiselle,”

cried Lady M--, colouring up to the temples.

”No, madam, such is not the case, and that is all the answer I shall give; it is sufficient for you that you are exposed, and I do not envy your present feelings. I have only to repeat, that I shall leave this house to-morrow morning, and I will not further trouble your ladys.h.i.+p with my company.”

I then walked out of the room, and as I pa.s.sed Lady M--, and observed her confusion and vexation, I felt that it was she who was humiliated, and not me. I went up to my room and commenced my preparations for immediate departure, and had been more than an hour busy in packing up, when Amy came into my room.

”Oh, Valerie, how sorry I am--but you have behaved just as I think that you ought to have done; and how very kind of you not to say that I told you. My mother was so angry after you left; said that the maids must have been listening, and declares she will give them all warning; but I know that she will not do that. She spoke about your meeting a young man, and kissing going on; but you have already explained all that.”

”Amy,” replied I, ”after I am gone, take an opportunity of saying to Lady M--, that you mentioned this to me, and tell her that my reply was, if Lady M--knew who that young man was, how he is connected, and how large a fortune he will inherit, she would be very glad to see him kiss one of her daughter's hands with a different feeling from that which induced him to kiss mine.”

”I will, depend upon it,” said Amy, ”and then mamma will think that she has lost a good husband for me.”

”She will meet him some of these days,” replied I; ”and what is more, he will defend me from any attack made on that score.”

”I will tell her that, also,” said Amy, ”it will make her careful of what she says.”

One of the servants then knocked at the door, and said, that Lady M-- wished to see Miss Amy.

<script>