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rland； and her own lodgings in London had been let。
Under these circumstances； what was the best arrangement that could be made for her？ Miss Ladd wisely and kindly wrote to Emily on the subject； and asked for a speedy reply。
Later in the day； Alban was sent for to see Mrs。 Ellmother。 He found her anxiously waiting to hear what had passed； on the previous night； between Miss Ladd and himself。 〃Were you careful； sir； to say nothing about Miss Emily？〃
〃I was especially careful； I never alluded to her in any way。〃
〃Has Miss de Sor spoken to you？〃
〃I have not given her the opportunity。〃
〃She's an obstinate oneshe might try。〃
〃If she does； she shall hear my opinion of her in plain words。〃 The talk between them turned next on Alban's discovery of the secret； of which Mrs。 Ellmother had believed herself to be the sole depositary since Miss Letitia's death。 Without alarming her by any needless allusion to Doctor Allday or to Miss Jethro； he answered her inquiries （so far as he was himself concerned） without reserve。 Her curiosity once satisfied； she showed no disposition to pursue the topic。 She pointed to Miss Ladd's cat； fast asleep by the side of an empty saucer。
〃Is it a sin； Mr。 Morris； to wish I was Tom？ _He_ doesn't trouble himself about his life that is past or his life that is to come。 If I could only empty my saucer and go to sleep； I shouldn't be thinking of the number of people in this world； like myself； who would be better out of it than in it。 Miss Ladd has got me my liberty tomorrow； and I don't even know where to go； when I leave this place。〃
〃Suppose you follow Tom's example？〃 Alban suggested。 〃Enjoy to…day （in that comfortable chair） and let to…morrow take care of itself。〃
To…morrow arrived； and justified Alban's system of philosophy。 Emily answered Miss Ladd's letter； to excellent purpose； by telegraph。
〃I leave London to…day with Cecilia〃 （the message announced） 〃for Monksmoor Park； Hants。 Will Mrs。 Ellmother take care of the cottage in my absence？ I shall be away for a month； at least。 All is prepared for her if she consents。〃
Mrs。 Ellmother gladly accepted this proposal。 In the interval of Emily's absence； she could easily arrange to return to her own lodgings。 With words of sincere gratitude she took leave of Miss Ladd； but no persuasion would induce her to say good…by to Francine。 〃Do me one more kindness； ma'am； don't tell Miss de Sor when I go away。〃 Ignorant of the provocation which had produced this unforgiving temper of mind； Miss Ladd gently remonstrated。 〃Miss de Sor received my reproof in a penitent spirit； she expresses sincere sorrow for having thoughtlessly frightened you。 Both yesterday and to…day she has made kind inquiries after your health。 Come！ come！ don't bear malicewish her good…by。〃 Mrs。 Ellmother's answer was characteristic。 〃I'll say good…by by telegraph； when I get to London。〃
Her last words were addressed to Alban。 〃If you can find a way of doing it； sir； keep those two apart。〃
〃Do you mean Emily and Miss de Sor？
〃Yes。〃
〃What are you afraid of？〃
〃I don't know。〃
〃Is that quite reasonable； Mrs。 Ellmother？〃
〃I daresay not。 I only know that I _am_ afraid。〃
The pony chaise took her away。 Alban's class was not yet ready for him。 He waited on the terrace。
Innocent alike of all knowledge of the serious reason for fear which did really exist； Mrs。 Ellmother and Alban felt； nevertheless； the same vague distrust of an intimacy between the two girls。 Idle； vain； malicious； falseto know that Francine's character presented these faults； without any discoverable merits to set against them； was surely enough to justify a gloomy view of the prospect； if she succeeded in winning the position of Emily's friend。 Alban reasoned it out logically in this waywithout satisfying himself； and without accounting for the remembrance that haunted him of Mrs。 Ellmother's farewell look。 〃A commonplace man would say we are both in a morbid state of mind；〃 he thought； 〃and sometimes commonplace men turn out to be right。〃
He was too deeply preoccupied to notice that he had advanced perilously near Francine's window。 She suddenly stepped out of her room； and spoke to him。
〃Do you happen to know； Mr。 Morris； why Mrs。 Ellmother has gone away without bidding me good…by？〃
〃She was probably afraid； Miss de Sor； that you might make her the victim of another joke。〃
Francine eyed him steadily。 〃Have you any particular reason for speaking to me in that way？〃
〃I am not aware that I have answered you rudelyif that is what you mean。〃
〃That is _not_ what I mean。 You seem to have taken a dislike to me。 I should be glad to know why。〃
〃I dislike crueltyand you have behaved cruelly to Mrs。 Ellmother 〃
〃Meaning to be cruel？〃 Francine inquired。
〃You know as well as I do； Miss de Sor； that I can't answer that question。〃
Francine looked at him again 〃Am I to understand that we are enemies？〃 she asked。
〃You are to understand；〃 he replied； 〃that a person whom Miss Ladd employs to help her in teaching； cannot always presume to express his sentiments in speaking to the young ladies。〃
〃If that means anything； Mr。 Morris； it means that we are enemies。〃
〃It means； Miss de Sor； that I am the drawing…master at this school； and that I am called to my class。〃
Francine returned to her room； relieved of the only doubt that had troubled her。 Plainly no suspicion that she had overheard what passed between Mrs。 Ellmother and himself existed in Alban's mind。 As to the use to be made of her discovery； she felt no difficulty in deciding to wait； and be guided by events。 Her curiosity and her self…esteem had been alike gratifiedshe had got the better of Mrs。 Ellmother at last； and with that triumph she was content。 While Emily remained her friend； it would be an act of useless cruelty to disclose the terrible truth。 There had certainly been a coolness between them at Brighton。 But Francinestill influenced by the magnetic attraction which drew her to Emilydid not conceal from herself that she had offered the provocation； and had been therefore the person to blame。 〃I can set all that right；〃 she thought； 〃when we meet at Monksmoor Park。〃 She opened her desk and wrote the shortest and sweetest of letters to Cecilia。 〃I am entirely at the disposal of my charming friend； on any convenient daymay I add； my dear； the sooner the better？〃
CHAPTER XXXVII。
〃THE LADY WANTS YOU； SIR。〃
The pupils of the drawing…class put away their pencils and color…boxes in high good humor： the teacher's vigilant eye for faults had failed him for the first time in their experience。 Not one of them had been reproved； they had chattered and giggled and drawn caricatures on the margin of the paper； as freely as if the master had left the room。 Alban's wandering attention was indeed beyond the reach of control。 His interview with Francine had doubled his sense of responsibility toward Emilywhile he was further than ever from seeing how he could interfere； to any useful purpose； in his present position； and with his reasons for writing under reserve。
One of the servants addressed him as he was leaving the schoolroom。 The landlady's boy was waiting in the hall； with a message from hi