boy always, yet one
feels that growing up ought to be growing into something better--not
worse. Honestly, between ourselves, I don't think Madame Bertier has a
good influence over him. He's always fearfully taken with her,
absolutely infatuated. She fascinates him just as she does Vivien and
Dorothy and some of the girls at school, and she encourages him in
things he'd much better let alone. She was up at Windy Howe on Sunday,
and took Morland off for a long walk, although he'd promised to stay at
home that last afternoon. They went along the cliffs towards Tangy
Point. Don't think I'm jealous, but I really feel angry with
her--carrying him away from his family when he'd only a few hours left
of his leave!"

"I hope he didn't show her our cave?" asked Lorraine quickly.

"I hope not, but I think it's extremely probable. Oh, yes! I know he
promised to keep the secret, but he's beginning to say that our secrets
are childish, and not worth keeping. I've several times heard Madame
asking him if he knew of any caves along the coast. If she asked
persistently enough he'd be sure to tell her. I know Morland!"

"Why is she so keen on caves?"

Claudia shrugged her shoulders.

"There are a great many 'whys' about Madame that I can't answer. She's
the sort of woman you read about in a novel. She's bewitched most people
at Porthkeverne. I own she's very nice and pleasant, and when I'm with
her I even fall under the spell a little, and almost like her, but all
the time at the bottom of my heart I don't trust her at all."

Whatever Claudia's private opinion might be of Madame Bertier, that
pretty Russian lady was very popular in the artistic and literary
circles of the town. She was always ready to pose as model, or to play
her violin at concerts or At Homes. She was capital company, had a fine
sense of humour, and could keep a whole room full of people amused with
her lively chatter. In addition to her engagement at The Gables she had
now a number of private pupils in Porthkeverne, and had established
quite a connection for lessons in French, Russian, and music. On the
subject of her husband she was guarded, but it was generally understood
that he was a prisoner in Germany, and that she sent him parcels.
Lorraine, with a remembrance of that brief sentence she had overheard at
Burlington House, often wondered if that were the case.

Madame's Academy portrait had been considered quite one of the pictures
of the year: it had bee