8Mistral was worried and unhappy. She was not quite certain why except that she sensed that something was wrong though she could not find a reasonable explanation for the feeling. When she and Jeanne returned from their walk that afternoon, Aunt Emilie had met them at the door of the sitting room and said sharply,
‘You will go to your bedroom, Mistral, and stay there until either Jeanne or I fetch you. Is that understood? You are not to leave it until you are told to do so.’
‘Yes, Aunt Emilie,’ Mistral had replied. But – is anything the matter?’
‘Kindly do as you are told without argument or idiotic questions,’ Emilie answered, and abashed Mistral had gone to her room and closed the door.
For some time she sat wondering what she could have done to incur her aunt’s anger, yet ponder as
