" said Lorraine, whose head was not turned by the new
idol. "She's not quite my style, somehow. I always feel she's out for
admiration."

"Well, she deserves to be admired."

"Not so consciously, though."

"I think she's too precious for words. It's something even to be in the
same room with her!" gushed Audrey. "I've scored over you, Vivien,
because she's written two verses in my album, and she only wrote one in
yours!"

"Yes, but it was original poetry in mine!"

"How do you know, when it's in Russian?"

"She said so, at any rate."

"Oh! I must ask her to put in an original one for me."

"She's coming to tea with us to-morrow."

"You lucker!"

There seemed no lengths to which the girls would not go. Several of them
kept sentimental diaries in which were recorded the doings and sayings
of their deity. Audrey's ran as follows:--

_Jan. 15th._--A new sun rose in the sky, and the world of school
has changed for me. I could do nothing but gaze.

_Jan. 16th._--Her name is Madame Bertier.

_Jan. 17th._--Her Christian name is Olga Petrovna.

_Jan. 18th._--She looked directly at me, and I blushed.

_Jan. 19th._--To-day she smiled upon me.

_Jan. 22nd._--To-day she accepted my flowers.

_Jan. 23rd._--A black day. Vivien has engrossed her entirely.

_Jan. 24th._--I have asked Mother to call upon her.

_Jan. 25th._--The world dark. Mother too busy to call.

_Jan. 30th._--Mother called to-day. Hooray!

_Feb. 1st._--She is coming to tea. I feel I am treading on air.

_Feb. 2nd._--She has been to our house. It was the happiest day
of my life.

Though she came as a stranger to Porthkeverne, Madame Bertier very soon
found friends. Her attractive personality and her musical talent gained
her the entree into the artistic and literary circles of the town. Two
principal figure-painters asked her to sit for her portrait, and her
violin was much in demand for concerts at the Arts Club. Like most of
the Bohemian residents of the place, she found her way to the studio at
Windy Howe, and a pastel drawing of her profile soon stood on Mr.
Castleton's easel. She did not win universal favour, however, at the
house on the hill. Claudia, walking from school one day with Lorraine,
exploded upon the subject.

"I can't bear the woman! I don't know what Vivien and the others see in
her. I call it very flashy to wear all that jewellery at school. She's
always up at our