Page:Duer Miller--The charm school.djvu/163

 "I suppose," said Miss Curtis, timidly, "that Mr. Johns was—was rather terrible?"

"Mr. Johns," said Austin, "was willing that the correspondence should continue, only, of course, I absolutely forbade that."

"I was sure dear Elise was not to blame, murmured Miss Curtis.

Austin cleared his throat. "How does Elise seem?" he inquired.

"Oh, the way girls do after they've been home for holidays," answered Miss Hayes, crossly. "If I had my way, children should never be allowed to go back to the parents. She looks pale and listless. All these parties and theaters—so silly."

Austin was silent; human beings were pitiful creatures, he thought. Miss Curtis protested. "You ought not to talk that way about parents, Eleanor," she said. "It would ruin the school if any of them heard you. But I must confess, Elise does seem to be in a curious state of mind. I said to her yesterday that she ought to take more interest in her work—set an example—she, who had everything in the world she could ask for, and she burst into tears. I had not meant to be harsh."

Miss Hayes fixed her eyes on Austin contemplatively. "Perhaps she hasn't got