You said I would
remember that, and I do; but perhaps you think I have done something
worse than being rude, Mademoiselle! I want to know--please tell me!--
can your bottle be stuck together so that you can use it again?"

Mademoiselle's face clouded over. She had recovered from her first
violent anger about the accident, but it was still too sore a subject to
be lightly touched.

"No," she said shortly, "it cannot mend. I tried. I thought I might
use it still as an ornament, but the pieces will not _fit_. There is
perhaps something missing. I have just to make up my mind that it is
gone for ever. It seems as if I should never know what happened to it."

An expression of undoubted relief and satisfaction passed over Pixie's
face as she heard these last words, but Mademoiselle was gazing
disconsolately in the fire, and it had passed before she looked up.
Perhaps she had hoped that her words would draw forth some sort of
confession, but, if so, she was fated to be disappointed, for when Pixie
spoke again it was to broach another subject.

"Mademoiselle, I've a favour to ask you! I've been afraid to do it
before, but you are so kind to-day that I'm not frightened any longer.
It's about the party at the end of the term. The girls say they always
have one, and they will be broken-hearted if they miss that as well as
all the holidays. It is no use my asking, because it's me that's in
trouble, but, Mademoiselle, it was your bottle that was broken. If you
asked Miss Phipps, she couldn't find the heart in her to say no!
Please, Mademoiselle, will you ask if the girls can have their party the
same as ever?"

Mademoiselle looked, as she felt, completely taken aback by this
unexpected request. It sounded strange indeed coming from Pixie's lips,
and it was difficult to explain to the girl that she herself would be
the greatest hindrance to the granting of such a request. She looked
down, fingered her dress in embarrassment, and said slowly--

"For my part I should be glad for the girls to have their party. It is
hard that they should all suffer, and it _is_ dull for them. I have
been here three years, but it was never so dull as this. Yes, I would
ask, but what would Miss Phipps say? That is a different thing! It
seems odd to stop the holidays and give the party all the same, and--do
you not see?--the bad girl--the girl who will not say what she has
done--she would have her pleasure with the rest, and that