or Miss Leigh, with whom I have been rehearsing. She almost
knows the play by heart, and set my song to music."

Bluebell was starting out with the children, but came very willingly.
Acting always had a charm for her, and, the play being pretty well in her
head, she could prompt and watch at the same time.

Kate was too clever not to act well; but the _role_ of the simple,
ingenuous heroine was scarcely suited to her. She did not _look_ it. The
other girl, Miss Heneage, said her part like a lesson, but could not act
it. The men were imperfect--incapable of getting through a sentence
without the prompter. Sir Robert was the most inattentive of all, being
more interested in trying to set up a flirtation with Bluebell, who
demurely repressed him.

Such were the elements Mr. Barton was preparing to appear before an
indulgent public in two days' time. All the neighbourhood was invited to
the theatricals, and the evening was to close with a dance.

This night Bluebell received no invitation to join the party below. The
children went down without her, and came up about nine, apparently in a
great state of amusement.

"You'll get down to-morrow, I think, Miss Leigh. Uncle Bromley said to
mamma, 'Where is your pretty governess, Lydia? Surely she is coming down
to sing to us?' And Sir Robert muttered something about 'a beautiful
syren,' and wanted to go up and fetch you."

Bluebell was more gratified by the first part of this speech; that silly
Sir Robert would spoil everything.

Next day, according to Mabel's prognostications, the ban was removed, and
Bluebell made free of the saloon in the evening, continuing, however,
rigorously to retire when her pupils did. Somewhat to her discomposure,
she found they had been chattering to Kate about Lord Bromley joining
their morning walks. Miss Barrington had turned this little circumstance
over in her mind rather curiously. Bluebell was apparently so wonderfully
discreet with young men, it was strange she should go out early to flirt
with an old one.

"Next time say you would rather walk in the Park, Mabel," said she.

And when the children rather confusedly acted on this advice, Bluebell,
detecting Kate's hand in it, immediately assented, determined that no
reluctance should be reported.

The day of the theatricals arrived, and with it a great reverse of
fortune to Miss Barrington. She had driven early into the market-town in
a small pony carriage for some essential no one bu