It was a relief when Mademoiselle Duroc entered the
room and asked if Anne might be excused to practise a marching song.
"I beg ten thousand pardons for the interruption," she said. "But
monsieur understands, I am quite sure. The finals of school approach so
rapidly and we would not have the pupils fail to do credit to the kind
patrons."
"Of course, of course. That's all right," answered Mr. Patterson. "I
wished to talk to you, anyway--about this child--" as Anne accepted the
excuse and gladly departed. "Can you give me a few minutes now? Thank
you.--I cannot say. I suppose the child has improved. I had not seen
her before. She was alone on shipboard and my wife took charge of
her.--Oh, no! there was no formal adoption. I shall take her back to
America, of course. Her people may turn up or--or--I haven't decided
what I'll do about her. I haven't really thought about it. Tell me what
you can about the child, please."
Mademoiselle Duroc answered with careful details. Anne was clever,
fairly studious, well-mannered, amiable, rather quick-tempered. The
session marks had not been made out but they would show her standing
good in most of her studies.
Pages:
64
65
66
67
68
69
70
71
72
73
74
75
76
77
78
79
80
81
82
83
84
85
86
87
88