r defiance of
Mrs. Marston's wishes.

"Mademoiselle, I conclude from your silence that you have nothing very
pressing to say, and, therefore, must request that you will have the
goodness to leave me for the present," said Mrs. Marston, who felt that
the spirit of the French girl's conduct was too apparent not to have been
understood by Rhoda and the servant, and that it was of a kind, for
example sake, impossible to be submitted to, or tolerated.

Mademoiselle de Barras darted a fiery and insolent glance at Mrs.
Marston, and was, doubtless, upon the point of precipitating the open
quarrel which was impending, by setting her authority at defiance; but
she checked herself, and changed her line of operations.

"We are not alone madame," she said, with a heightened color, and a
slight toss of the head. "I was about to speak of Mr. Marston. I had
something, not much, I confess, to say; but before servants I shan't
speak; nor, indeed, now at all. So, madame, as you desire it, I shall no
further interrupt you. Come, Miss Rhoda, come to the music-room, if you
please, and finish your practice for today."

"You forget, mademoiselle, that I wish to have my daughter with me at
present," said Mrs. Marston.

"I am very sorry, madame," said the French lady, with the same heightened
color and unpleasant smile, and her finely-penciled brows just
discernibly knit, so as to give a novel and menacing expression to her
beautiful face--"I am very sorry, madame, but she must, so long as I
remain accountable for her education, complete her allotted exercises at
the appointed hours; and nothing shall, I assure you, with my consent,
interfere with these duties. Come, Miss Rhoda, precede me, if you please,
to the music-room. Come, come."

"Stay where you are, Rhoda," said Mrs. Marston, firmly and gently, and
betraying no symptom of excitement, except in a slight tremor of her
voice, and a faint flush upon her cheek--"Stay where you are, my dear
child. I am your mother, and, next to your father, have the first claim
upon your obedience. Mademoiselle," she continued, addressing the
Frenchwoman, calmly but firmly, "my daughter will remain here for some
time longer, and you will have the goodness to withdraw. I insist upon
it, Mademoiselle de Barras."

"I will not leave the room, I assure you, madame, without my pupil,"
retorted mademoiselle, with resolute insolence. "Your husband, madame,
has invested me with this authority, and she shall ob