certainly unmerited
reproach in silence, Jacinth with relief heard the door close on her
sister and began to hope she was going to have a little peace, it was
opened again sufficiently to admit Frances's fluffy head, while she
asked, in a half-grumbling, half-conciliatory tone, if she might take
Eugene.

'Of course,' said Jacinth; 'a little fresh air in the morning is always
good for him.'

She heard no more except, ten minutes or so later, the closing of the
front-door, and the next three-quarters of an hour passed, rapidly, so
absorbed was she in her own work, till the old church clock striking
twelve--for St Blaise's in the Market Square was but a stone's-throw
from Miss Mildmay's house--made her look up suddenly, and at that moment
came a rushing of eager feet across the stone-tiled hall, quickly
followed by Frances's voice in great excitement.

'Jacinth, Jass!' she exclaimed, and almost before the elder girl had
time to say to herself, 'I do hope nothing has gone wrong,' her sister's
bright face reassured her.

Frances was like a veritable April day--gloom and sparkle, tears and
laughter, succeeded each other with her as swiftly as the clouds rushing
before the wind alternately veil and reveal the sun's bright face,
though underneath all this fitfulness and caprice lay a sturdy
foundation of principle and loyalty which circumstances, so far, had
scarcely brought out, and which Jacinth certainly did not as yet realise
or appreciate.

'Oh Jass,' exclaimed the little girl, 'I am so glad I went. _Such_ a
nice thing has happened! I saw Miss Marcia--I asked for her at the door,
and she was crossing the hall; wasn't it lucky? She _was_ so kind about
the book, and she took me herself to the big schoolroom to fetch it.
None of the girls were there--it looked so funny all empty, you can't
think--they were out in the garden. And Jass, to-day they 're going to
have their last out-of-doors tea for this year, you know, as it's
getting cold. They have tea in the garden every fortnight all through
the fine weather. And she invited _me_, Jass--just fancy! She said she
was sure you wouldn't mind, as it's quite an extra thing to invite a
day-scholar, you see, and'----

Here Frances was forced to take breath, and Jacinth got a chance of
putting in a word.

'Of course I don't mind,' she said. 'I'm very glad indeed, _very_ glad
for you to have a little fun. And we couldn't have gone much of a walk
this afternoon, as Eugene is