“It is a great chance,” she continued; “my friend Madame Perrier is very good, very amiable for her teachers.  She is like a sister for them.  The terms are very high, very high for France; but there is absolutely every comfort.  The arrangements are precisely like England.  She has lived in England for two years, and knows what English young ladies look for; and the house is positively English.  I suppose you could introduce a few English pupils.”

“No,” I answered, “I am afraid I could not.  I am sure I could not.”

“That of course must be considered in the premium,” she continued; “if you could have introduced, say, six pupils, the premium would be low.  I do not think my friend would take one penny less than twenty pounds for the first year, and ten for the second.”

The tears started to my eyes.  I had felt so sure of going if I would pay ten pounds, that I was quite unprepared for this disappointment.  There was still my diamond ring left; but how to dispose of it, for any thing like its value, I did not know.  It was in my purse now, with all my small store of money, which I dared not leave behind me in my lodgings.

“What were you prepared to give?” asked Mrs. Wilkinson, while I hesitated.

“The clerk at Ridley’s office told me the premium would be ten pounds,” I answered;

“I do not see how I can give more.”

“Well,” she said, after musing a little, while I watched her face anxiously, “it is time this child went.  She has been here a month, waiting for somebody to take her down to Noireau.  I will agree with you, and will explain it to Madame Perrier.  How soon could you go?”

“I should like to go to-morrow,” I replied, feeling that the sooner I quitted London the better.  Mrs. Wilkinson’s steady eyes fastened upon me again with sharp curiosity.

“Have you references, miss?” she asked.

“No,” I faltered, my hope sinking again before this old difficulty.

“It will be necessary then,” she said, “for you to give the money to me, and I will forward it to Madame Perrier.  Pardon, miss, but you perceive I could not send a teacher to them unless I knew that she could pay the money down.  There is my commission to receive the money for my friend.”

She gave me a paper written in French, of which I could read enough to see that it was a sort of official warrant to receive accounts for Monsieur Perrier, avocat, and his wife.  I did not waver any longer.  The prospect seemed too promising for me to lose it by any irresolution.  I drew out my purse, and laid down two out of the three five-pound notes left me.  She gave me a formal receipt in the names of Emile and Louise Perrier, and her sober face wore an expression of satisfaction.

“There! it is done,” she said, wiping her pen carefully.  “You will take lessons, any lessons you please, from the professors who attend the school.  It is a grand chance, miss, a grand chance.  Let us say you go the day after to-morrow; the child will be quite ready.  She is going for four years to that splendid place, a place for ladies of the highest degree.”