Perhaps it was from the fiance of one of the engaged pupils; and, in that case, there was no great harm done or intended--only a small irregularity.

Several of the girls, the majority, indeed, had brothers or cousins at the neighbouring college.
But "la robe grise, le chapeau de paille," here surely was a clue--a very confusing one.

The straw-hat was an ordinary garden head-screen, common to a score besides myself.

The grey dress hardly gave more definite indication.

Madame Beck herself ordinarily wore a grey dress just now; another teacher, and three of the pensionnaires, had had grey dresses purchased of the same shade and fabric as mine: it was a sort of every-day wear which happened at that time to be in vogue.
Meanwhile, as I pondered, I knew I must go in.