her own dog Turc was still gazing, she could only feel pity; but still she must do her duty, and leading the child by the hand, she took her into school, and then sent into the dining-room to ask to speak to the head governess. Very fortunately for Hilda, Madame Rivière herself was dining out this evening.

Mademoiselle L'Herbier came in answer to the concièrge's summons, and was much surprised to see Hilda with her, but still more so to hear what the concièrge had to say. Hilda was asked no questions then. Her doll and its bundle were taken from her, and she was told first to make herself a little tidy for dinner, and then to go at once into the dining-room. She had already been missed, but no one could or would say where she was. Little Paulette knew, but never answered when at dinner the question was put, 'Did any one know where Hilda Montgomery was?' Directly after dinner, during recreation-time, Hilda had to prepare her lessons for the following day, and then to go straight to bed.

She felt very much ashamed to walk in to dinner so late, and as she went in most of the girls looked at her, and many made remarks. Hilda was very sad and angry, as her face showed; then she was anxious too, for she feared that a very heavy punishment was in store for her; but there was one bright spot, Cleopatra was safe, thanks to dear Turc, as Hilda thought. Clochette and little Dolly Scott had been wondering very much what had become of their friend, and were very uneasy about her when the time slipped on and she did not come back to dress for dinner, but they never for one moment imagined it possible that she could have run out of doors. This would have seemed to them quite an impossibility.

T

CHAPTER XIV.

AFTER RECREATION.

HE next morning Hilda went to breakfast as usual, and to lessons from eight o'clock until a quarter

to twelve. All that time she had been wonder ing when her summons to the head governess or even to Madame, would come; for if her misdeed had beer. reported to her, no doubt she herself would send for her; but recreation-time came, and still there was no summons for Hilda. She went out into the garden with the rest of the girls. It was a bright, cold winter's day, but they wore no cloaks or hats; their aprons were warm, and as they only went out of doors to play on bright days, they did not accustom themselves to wear extra out-of-door clothing, but kept themselves warm by running and skipping. Hilda's friend Clochette walked up to her. The English child looked very sad and anxious to-day, and most of her companions were very sorry for her. Many of the French girls at Madame Rivière's were very warm-hearted and kind to one another when in trouble; but some of them had this peculiarity, the same girls who were most sympathizing one day, would, when the cause of sorrow was removed, be unkind and spiteful towards those whom they had before befriended. But Clochette d'Aubignier was kind without ever being

spiteful, and during the last six months had added greatly to Hilda's happiness by her unvarying friendship; and as she was two years older than Hilda, and two forms higher, Hilda valued her friendship very much.

'What is all this, Hilda?' she asked, directly they had stepped out into the garden. Is it really true that you went outside the gates alone yesterday? It seems almost impossible that you could have done such a thing.'

Several other girls walked towards Hilda, as though they wished to put a similar question. Anxious little Dolly went towards her on the other side. Mathilde, who had rather an awe and fear of Clochette, went as near her as she could, in order, if possible, to overhear what Hilda was saying to her friend.

Paulette had her back towards Hilda, talking to another group of girls, and was trying to change the subject of conversation-Hilda's absence yesterday at the beginning of dinner.

'If it is true,' Clochette went on, 'I cannot think what punishment you will have, and I only hope that Madame will hear nothing about it.'

'What do you think my punishment will be?' asked Hilda, speaking so softly that none of the other girls could hear; 'because it is quite true. I went to fetch Cleopatra, who was actually lying on the path, the other side of the wall, close to the pump!'

"As far as that?' asked Clochette.

'Yes, it was just beyond the pump, near to the second lamp-post.'

'Well, if I were you,' whispered Clochette, as she moved nearer to Hilda, 'I would not say how far I had been, and if asked I should put it at half that distance. No one would know unless you told them; the concièrge couldn't say how far you went, and the gardener came back to move his ladder when we were at dinner.'

'But I could not do that; I could not say what was

untrue,' said Hilda, not only shocked, but dreadfully grieved and disappointed that her friend Clochette, whom she had believed to be so very good, could advise her to tell a falsehood.

'Oh, Clochette,' Hilda repeated, 'I must say just the right place; it would be so dreadful not to do that!'

At this moment a call was given to summon the whole school into the recreation-room. This was the largest room in the school.

The head governess, not Madame, was there. Hilda was very glad of that when she was beckoned to come apart from the other girls, and say how far she had gone yester day along the path outside, and was asked how she could dare to go. Hilda mentioned the exact spot whither she had run, and said that she had gone to fetch her doll, who was on the other side of the wall.

When asked how she knew that her doll was there, she refused to answer, because she thought that Paulette might get into trouble for going up the ladder and looking over the wall, if it were known that she had done this.

A question was then put to the assembled school. Had any of the girls heard before dinner that Hilda's doll was on the other side of the wall? Paulette stepped forward and Isaid what she had known and done in the matter.

Then all together, and when this failed to bring an answer, one by one the girls were asked if any of them knew how Hilda's doll and bundle had got to the other side of the wall. All said they knew nothing about it, and most of the girls looked innocent; but one, Mathilde d'Arcier, looked very much confused.

Several other questions were put to the girls, but when no light was by them thrown on the subject, all but Mathilde were dismissed.

She had been heard by the governesses themselves to