The day of the dance came. Clara Longueville and her brother, whomm theservants persisted in honoring with the noble DE, were the principleguests. For the first time in her life Mademoiselle de Fontaine feltpleasure in a youthful girl's triumph. She lavished on Clara in allsincerity the gracious petting and little attentions which womengenerally give each other only to excite the jealousy of men. Emilie,had, indeed, an object in view; she wanted to discover some secrets.But, being a girl, Mademoiselle Longueville showed even moremother-wit than her brother, for she did not even look as if she werehiding a secret, and kept the conversation to subjects unconnected withpersonal interests, while, at the same time, she gave it so much charmthat Mademoiselle de Fontaine was almost envious, and called her "theSiren." Though Emilie had intended to make Clara talk, it was Clara,in fact, whom questioned Emilie; she had meant to judge her, and shewas judged by her; she was constantly provoked to find that she hadbetrayed her own character in some reply which Clara had extractedfrom her, while her modest and candid manner prohibited any suspicionof perfidy. There was a moment when Mademoiselle de Fontaine seemedsorry for an ill-judged sally against the commonalty to which Clarahad led her.