The weekend in Trouville passed brilliantly in a haze. There are very few private moments that I have not disclosed in this narrative, so I will give Ilios and her Mother the privacy of the wonderful happy moments that happened at that seashore.

However, on her first day home, Christine received a rather frantic phone call.

"Madam Giry?" Christine called making her way into the studio. "What's happened? What's so important you couldn't tell me on the telephone?"

"We have serious matters to discuss," Giry said solemnly gesturing for her to sit down. "How old is Ilios?"

"She'll be sixteen in February Why?"

Giry bit her lip, "Then there is time."

"Madam?" Christine asked slowly, "Serious matters about what."

"Why about Ilios of course," Giry exclaimed. "You were at Trouville over the weekend, with Peter Gaston. What a dreadful mistake."

"A mistake?" Christine laughed, "Whatever are you talking about?"

Madam Giry cleared her throat and stared at Christine, "Has it ever occurred to you- That Ilios-"

"Ilios?" Christine frowned, "I don't understand."

Madam Giry raised an eyebrow, "Well, that Ilios might, well?"

Christine'ss eyes widened, "Ilios?!"

"Yes Ilios."

"It isn't possible." Christine scoffed.

"It isn't," madam Giry chided, "Not if it's ruined at the beginning through lack of tact."

"I don't believe it," Christine said staring out the window, "Peter wouldn't- Ilios could never, she's only a child."

"How old were you when you met Erik."

"Sixteen but-"

"But?"

Christine scoffed, "We were young. It was a diffrent time!"

"Not much has changed," Giry exclaimed, "Only courtship is a time now for young woman to obtain their fortunes."

"Ilios has too good a heart to hurt him. She wouldn't be able to I'm afriad that-"

Madam Giry frowned, "Afraid of what?"

"I'm afraid of her falling in love with him. Or rather not. It kill her, I wouldn't bear it." Christine said firmly.

"I have no doubt he had a pleasant time," Giry said slowly, "So pleasant in fact that when he returned he canceled all other engagements, broke off all his relationships and left Paris."

"Left Paris?!" Christine exclaimed. "Where to?"

"Monte Carlo." Giry nodded, "For what they describe as an extended stay."

"Impossible." Christine said angrilly, "How dare you insinuate-"

"I'm simply saying, we have a chance here, an opertunity."

"Erik won't allow it," Christine said coldly rising, "And neither will I. Not even If she does want to live as you. I've seen how people above live now and I want no part in it! No part! I thought you were teaching her to be a lady, not this! Never this!"

"Christine," Giry pleaded, "I only want to secure her future."

"Hers?" Christine scoffed gathering her things, "Or yours?"

----------

"Hello Mother," Peter grinned entering the parlor, "Hello Ilios."

"Come in," Christine said, her face alcking it's usual smile.

"Lukes in the back," Ilios said brightly, "I'll tell him you've come. Won't he be jelous!"

"Hold on!" Peter exclaimed, "I have a present for-"

Ilios had allready taken off.

"What's the matter with her?" Peter laughed.

"Everything," Christine said gravley.

Peter placed a hand on her arm, "Are allright?"

"Fine," Christine said hoarsly.

He couldn't help but feel unwanted. When she looked at him, it was with some distrust now, one he had no idea of what he had done to earn.

He had done many a terrible act and yet she had never looked at him like this before.

"She is a funny child." He noted with a laugh, "hasn't changed in the least since I first met her. Still a toddler."

Christine smiled weakly and nodded. "Did you have a nice trip? How was Monte Carlo?"

He sighed and leaned backward, putting his feet up on the table before she swatted them down, "A bore. The sun was yellow, the trees green."

Christine scoffed and shook her head, "One has to be as rich as you to be bored in Monte Carlo."

"Well acually," he said after a moment, "I bought Ilios, our little GiGi some choclates. Real nice ones this time too."

"Would you like some tea?"she said briskly changing the subject.

"Yes Mamita."

"Chamomile?"

"Yes."

Christine had just dissapeared into the kitchen when Ilios came around the stairs, a soft smile spread across her face.

Her one hand gently touched the railing, the other proudly held her long white lace skirt.

At long last she was able to show him the delightful present he had bought her so long ago.

She had tied her hair back and up into a bun with a long blue ribbon that went down the small of her back. Her lisp were red and sparkled in contrast to the creamy white.

"Four yards of material," She beamed happily spinning when she had reached the bottom of the stairs.he stared in silence.

"Well?" She laughed, "Don't I look great ladyish?"

"You look like- like-" Peter choked in horror, "Like a organ grinders monkey!"

Ilios' smile dissapeared quicker than ever, "A what?!"

Peter frowned angrilly, "What's happened to your little scotch dress?! The blue one?! What's that ridcolus collar?"

Ilios put a defensive hand to her neck, "And whats wrong with my collar?!"

"It makes you look like a giraffe with a goiter!" He exclaimed indignantly.

"With all the talk there is about you Peter," ilios shouted, "I never heard anything that said you had any taste in clothes!"

"I hate it!" He exclaimed, "You should burn it."

"And who are you to judge?!" Ilios cried feeling tears sting her eyes, "You with your gallvanting and wasting everyones time and enegy. Your nothing, just a leech. A leech!"

Christine entered the room quickly and withheld Ilios from punching poor Peter.

"Ilios have you gone mad?! You can't talk to Peter like that."

Ilios brushed herself off and stood tall and defiantly, her eyes driling holes in Peters skull.

:Apologize and just take that silly thing off," Peter ordered.

"I won't." Ilios said stubbornly, "This is a beautiful dress and I intend to wear it every day here on out."

Peter angirlly collected his things.

"You've ruined her!" He exclaimed to Christine, "You've ruined the child!"

"Leave my Mother out of this! Go!"

Peter tried to find something else to say btu felt such a rage within him he was unable to speak.

he stormed away from the premisis.

"Why did he get so mad?" Ilios mumbled, "He knew I'd answer him back, I always do."

"Ilios," Christine moaned sitting in her chair, "How can you say such things after that man has been so good to us. And just when we were trying so hard-"

"So hard for what Mama?" Ilios asked shamefully. She was regretting her temper as she never had before.

"Trying so hard to make someone respectable out of you. To show you off to your best advantage."

Ilios frowned, "But I don't have to with Peter," She looked out the window and then back to her Mother, "One doens't have to turn onselve inside out for someone like Peter. He allready sees all. It's silly."

Christine shook her head in tired defeat.

Ilios bit her lip and grinned as the row boat candle slowly started returning to shore.

"I knew he'd lose his nerve," She laughed, "I knew it."

Peter made his way begrudgingly into the parlor and gave a deep sigh.

On making eye contact the two burst into laughter.

"I've made a fool of myself haven't I?" He asked slowly.

"Utterly," ilios confirmed, "Go on."

"I've decided," he sighed, "Your new dress may not be all that bad. I didn't see it in the proper light. And perhaps-"

Ilios raised and eyebrow, "Perhaps?"

"Perhaps I was a bit cruel. But I intend to make it up to you." He looked at Christine as if to ask permission, "I'll take you to tea at Elinors, whenever you request. Would you like that?"

"I'd love it!" Ilios exclaimed.

"You can't go Ilios," Christine said sternly, "I'm sorry Peter."

Ilios eyes filled with grief, "What do you mean Mother?"

"Ilios go upstairs please. I have to talk to Peter about something."

"No." Ilios said determindly.

"Ilios," Christine said sharply.

Ilios' eyes widened, she looked helplessly to Peter and dragged herself upstairs.

"Christine," Peter laughed in a daze, "What does this mean?"

She gestured for him to sit, making sure Erik was nowhere to be found.

"Something has changed here latley." Peter said coldly, a chill traveling down his spine, "I can feel it. I don't like it."

Christine took a deep breath, "Peter, you well know my gratitude for you. I alone know how much you've done for our familly."

She raised her eyes to meet his own and took his ahnd, "I know where those mysterious checks come from."

Peter looked at her in surprise, "You do?"

"I do." she nodded. "Now listen. For years, you've been spoiling the girl rotten giving her candies and trinkets and gowns. And she adores you Peter."

"And I adore the michevious toddler myself, "Peter laughed, "What of it?"

"Now you want to take her to tea, in public," Christine said slowly, "If it were just you and I, even Erik would say take her anywhere you please. But there are others Gaston, you are known everywhere!" For a woman, to go out alone with you-"

Peter scoffed, "But Ilios is no woman! She's a child."

Christine countinued, "For a young girl of no name to go out in society with you, with all of Paris watching."

Peters face fell pale as realization dawned on him. "Are you saying?-being my friend, my companion for one tea would compromise her?!"

"A young girl who goes out with you Peter is no longer an ordinary young girl! Nor a respectable one even!"

Peter ran his fingers through his hair, his temper rising again. "This is absurd! Madness!"

"To you, to Paris it would be another news item, but i'm afriad," She said shaking her head sadly, "I would not have the heart to laugh."

"Madness!" Peter said angrilly again, "I'm done aruging. She's a child! And the moment she's a glimmer of potential in her eye you've ruined her! Ruined! Who Ma'am are you saving her precious tea time reputation for?! Some stage hand?! Wo will leave her with five children in a shack without an income? Pity on her Ma'am if that be so, and pity on you for bringing it about. I bid you good day."

"Peter," Christine exclaimed.

The moment he was out the door Christine burst into tears.

"Mama?" Ilios asked slowly, "Where has Peter gone?"

Christine shooker head and looked at her darling little girl.

"I tried so hard to protect you. I did what was needed."

"Mama?!" Ilios asked with concern. "Where has he gone? Will he come back?"

"I don't know darling," Christine whispered, "I don't know."