iscovered--Mr. Le Frank.

His bald head trembled, his florid complexion was livid with suppressed
rage. "That little devil has run away!" he said--and hurried down the
stairs again, as if he dare not trust himself to utter a word more.

"Has he heard me?" Carmina asked in dismay.

"He may only have heard you playing."

Offering this hopeful suggestion, Miss Minerva felt no doubt, in her
own mind, that Mr. Le Frank was perfectly well acquainted with Carmina's
opinion of him. It was easy enough to understand that he should himself
inform the governess of an incident, so entirely beyond the reach of his
own interference as the flight of Zo. But it was impossible to assume
that the furious anger which his face betrayed, could have been excited
by a child who had run away from a lesson. No: the vainest of men and
musicians had heard that he was ugly, and that his pianoforte-playing
resembled the performance of a musical box.

They left the room together--Carmina, ill at ease, to attend on her
aunt; Miss Minerva, pondering on what had happened, to find the fugitive
Zo.

The footman had already spared her the trouble of searching the
house. He had seen Zo running out bare-headed into the Square, and had
immediately followed her. The young rebel was locked up. "I don't care,"
said Zo; "I hate Mr. Le Frank!" Miss Minerva's mind was too seriously
preoccupied to notice this aggravation of her pupil's offence. One
subject absorbed her attention--the interview then in progress between
Carmina and her aunt.

How would Mrs. Gallilee's scheme prosper now? Mr. Le Frank might, or
might not, consent to be Carmina's teacher. Another result, however, was
certain. Miss Minerva thoroughly well knew the vindictive nature of the
man. He neither forgave nor forgot--he was Carmina's enemy for life.

CHAPTER XXIV.

The month of July was near its end.

On the morning of the twenty-eighth, Carmina was engaged in replying to
a letter received from Teresa. Her answer contained a record of domestic
events, during an interval of serious importance in her life under Mrs.
Gallilee's roof. Translated from the Italian, the letter was expressed
in these terms:

"Are you vexed with me, dearest, for this late reply to your sad news
from Italy? I have but one excuse to offer.

"Can I hear of your anxiety about your husband, and not feel the wish to
help you to bear your burden by writing cheerfully of myself? Over and
over again, I have t