Esperance enquired as soon as her
own eyes were well opened, what kind of night her chaperone had
passed. "Deliciously restful, and you, my dear child, how did you
sleep?"
"I never woke once. Oh! what a sun. Have you seen what a glorious day
it is?"
"It is the forerunner of good news," Jean cried out from the next
room.
"Who knows?" said Esperance.
The telephone at her bedside rung. Marguerite picked up the receiver,
and announced dejectedly, "M. Meydieux wishes to speak to
Mademoiselle."
"My godfather in Brussels!... You see, Jean, that I was right to
doubt your omen."
The young people burst out laughing.
"Really," continued Esperance, "I feel that he is going to spoil my
trip here. I don't like him, and his advice never coincides with that
of my father, whom I love so much."
Meantime M. Meydieux was getting impatient on the telephone.
"Tell him that I am not up yet, and ask him to lunch with us at
twelve-thirty. Then," she explained to Mlle. Frahender, who had just
come into her room, all powdered, all pinned and bonneted for the
morning, "he will not dare to bother me when everybody else is
present."
Marguerite was still answering M. Meydieux's excited questions: "What!
at half-past nine not up, that is shameful! I must talk to her ... I
will come to lunch, oh yes! but above all I must talk to her."
Esperance was motioning violently to Marguerite to hang up the
receiver, but Mlle.
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