It was summer and very hot. Georgette, the youngest of Madame Beck’s children, took a fever. Désirée, suddenly cured of her ailments¹, was, together with Fifine, packed off to Bonne-Maman, in the country, by way of precaution against infection. Medical aid was now really needed, and Madame, choosing to ignore the return of Dr. Pillule, who had been at home a week, conjured³ his English rival to continue his visits. One or two of the pensionnaires complained of headache, and in other respects seemed slightly to participate in Georgette’s ailment². “Now, at last,” I thought, “Dr. Pillule must be recalled: the prudent⁴ directress will never venture to permit the attendance of so young a man on the pupils.”

The directress was very prudent, but she could also be intrepidly⁵ venturous. She actually introduced Dr. John to the school-division of the premises⁶, and established him in attendance on the proud and handsome Blanche de Melcy, and the vain, flirting⁷ Angélique, her friend. Dr. John, I thought, testified a certain gratification at this mark of confidence; and if discretion⁸ of bearing could have justified⁹ the step, it would by him have been amply justified. Here, however, in this land of convents and confessionals, such a presence as his was not to be suffered with impunity¹⁰ in a “pensionnat de demoiselles.” The school gossiped, the kitchen whispered, the town caught the rumour

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