Читать книгу Forget-Me-Not - Bowen Marjorie - Страница 14

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When Mademoiselle Debelleyme reached her charming little apartment, she found the Duchess waiting for her in the spring twilight and her sense of security was rudely shaken.

Madame du Boccage, who seemed very nervous, began to speak at once.

"Mademoiselle, I must regret—a sudden change of plan—M. du Boccage and I have decided—the elder boy will have a tutor—go perhaps to school—the girls—I will see to myself. We go to Javiaux du Boccage soon—or perhaps to Locroi. I will pay your salary for the year—I will give you—yet another excellent testimonial."

"I am to leave, Madame?"

"If you please."

"At once?"

"If you please."

"May I ask why?"

"I have given you my reasons."

"They are scarcely sufficient, Madame," replied the governess, quietly, "for a sudden dismissal. An insulting dismissal. My character is my sole possession."

"I have said that I will give you an excellent testimonial."

"Even that will hardly cover my sudden departure from your house."

"It must." The Duchess rose; both her dignity and the emotion it cloaked were formidable. "If you have no other place ready, no relatives in Paris, you may lodge with the Santerres."

"May I know the cause of my offence? I have tried hard to please."

"Too hard. Mademoiselle!" murmured Madame du Boccage. "You are a good instructress, a fine manager, but your personality, no doubt in itself admirable, is not one I care to have placed in power—such full power—over my children."

"Ah! But I have acted under the instructions of M. du Boccage."

"I know. You are blameless. He admits his mistake. He hopes you will leave—to-morrow."

There was an unescapable finality about these words that made the governess recoil against the wall and pull at her fingers in a display of passion such as she seldom allowed herself.

"I have the right to know; Madame, the reason for this sudden decision."

"Oh, Mademoiselle!" cried the Duchess in generous scorn, "you are no fool. You know perfectly well that you have created an intolerable situation which must end."

And she was gone.