an opinion.

"Crisp up, Miss Mainwaring," she said; "crisp up a little; drawling
voices give me the fidgets most terribly. Now, my dear, try to fancy
yourself in the House of Commons; read that speech more animated, my
love. Ah, that's better!"

Primrose exerted herself, and for a few minutes the reading came up to
its usual standard, but then, again, thoughts of Daisy oppressed the
young reader, and once more her voice flagged.

"There, my dear, you had better turn to the bits of gossip; they are
more in your line, I can see, this morning. Dear, dear, dear! I can't
tell what's come to girls these days; they don't seem to find no heart
nor pleasure in anything. Now, if there is a girl who, in my opinion,
has fallen on her feet, it's you, Miss Mainwaring; for, surely, the
handsome salary I allow is earned with next to no trouble. When once a
girl can read she can read continual, and that's all I ask of you."

"I'm sorry," said Primrose; "some things at home are troubling me, and
I cannot help thinking about them. I shall do better over the gossip."

"That's right, my love! I'd ask you about the home troubles, but my
nerves won't stand no worriting. Get on with the gossip, dear, and
make your voice chirrupy and perky, as though you saw the spice of it
all, and enjoyed it--do."

Just at this moment, while poor Primrose was trying to train her
unwilling voice, the door was opened, and Poppy, red in the face, and
with her best hat and jacket on, came in.

"Miss Primrose, I'm come to say good-bye, I am. No, Mrs. Mortlock,
when about to quit I don't fear you no longer--not all the Sarahs in
Europe would have power over me now. I'm going. Aunt Flint and me we
has quarrelled, and I has given her fair warning, and I'm going back
to my native place, maybe this evening. Never no more will this city
of wanities see me. I'm off, Miss Primrose; I leaves Penelope Mansion
now, and I go straight away to your place to bid Miss Jasmine and Miss
Daisy good-bye."

"For goodness sake, Sarah Matilda Ann!" here interrupted Mrs.
Mortlock, speaking with great excitement, "before you go see you bring
me up my beef-tea--Mrs. Flint won't give it a thought, and my nerves
won't keep up without the nourishment. Run down to the kitchen this
minute, Sarah Mary, and bring me up the beef-tea, and a nice little
delicate slice of toast, done to a turn, to eat with it. Mind you,
don't let the toast get burnt, for if I can't see I can taste, and
well