happy one. I wonder what sort of creature that sister of hersis."
"By the way," said Miss Duke, "she came to me this morning with apetition. She wants to know if she may invite her sister to theperformance. It seems that Miss Brenda Carlton could take an earlytrain from where she is now staying and reach here in time for the day'sfestivities; and Penelope would take it as a great favour if she mightsleep in her room that night."
"No," replied Mrs Hazlitt with decision. "That I do not allow. Were Ito accede to Penelope's wish, the same request would be presented to meby each of my pupils. The girls will especially require their night'srest after the excitement of the day. I don't know anything about MissBrenda, but I am quite willing to invite her here as Penelope'srelation, only she cannot sleep in the house."
"I will speak to Penelope and tell her what you say," remarked MissDuke.
She moved away rather sadly. She was fully convinced, in spite ofherself, that there was something not quite right in the school, but notfor worlds would she give hint to Mrs Hazlitt with regard to thematter.
She found Penelope, as usual, surrounded by some of the younger girls.She dismissed them with a playful word and then, taking her pupil'shand, led her into the oak parlour where such a serious conversation hadtaken place between herself and the headmistress.
"What in the world is it, Deborah?" said Penelope.
She had a sort of defiant manner in these days--quite different from herold way which, although languid, provokingly so at times, was at leastdownright and matter-of-fact.
"What is it?" she said. "Why are you so mysterious?"
"I thought you wanted your sister to come to see the tableaux."
"Oh, Brenda--yes, she says she will come; I heard from her only thismorning. Is Mrs Hazlitt agreeable?"
"Quite agreeable."
"And may she share my room and bed?"
"That is just the point that I want to speak to you about, Penelope.She may not do so. Mrs Hazlitt's ideas on that subject are quite fixedand cannot by any possibility be altered. If your sister comes, we mustfind a room for her in the village."
"It doesn't much matter whether she comes or not," said Penelope,shrugging her shoulders. "I don't suppose she will care to go to theexpense of a room in the village. She is very young too, and can'tsleep alone at a hotel."
"But you would like her to see you as Helen of Troy?"
"Like it!" said Penelope--"yes, perhaps I should. I hate the wholething as I never hated anything in all my life before, but it might be asort of satisfaction to have Brenda there. I'd do a good deal--yes, agood deal for Brenda; but I don't think she will stay in the village."
"You want to write to her to-day about it, don't you?"
"I may as well write to-day. She is making her plans; she is going tothe seaside with her pupils, but could come to me on her way. But don'tlet us fuss about it, please. I don't really--greatly care."
"But _I_ care that you should have pleasure," said little Miss Duke."You know well how much I care. Wait a second until I get thetime-table."
She flew out of the room, returning in a few minutes with a Bradshaw.By dint of careful searching, she discovered that a train could be foundwhich would take Miss Brenda Carlton back to her rectory about midnighton the day of the break-up. Penelope condescended to seem pleased.
"Thank you," she said, "I will let her know. She may not care to come,for I think her principal reason was to have a chat with me; but thereis no saying. I will tell her the train, anyhow."
Penelope did write to Brenda, giving her full particulars with regard tothe train.
"My Dear Brenda," she wrote: "Your sleeping with me and having--as you express it--a cosy chat, is out of the question. Cause why: headmistress doesn't allow cosy chats between schoolgirls and their sisters. Reason for this: can't say--excites bad motives, in my opinion. Anyhow, if you want to see Helen of Troy in all her pristine splendour, you must take the train which leaves Harroway at nine in the morning; that will get you here by noon. You will have a hearty welcome and will mingle with the other guests, and I find there is a train back to Harroway at ten o'clock, which gets there sharp at twelve. Don't come if you don't want to: that's the best I can do for you.
"Your affectionate sister,--
"Penelope."
Now this letter reached Miss Brenda Carlton on a certain morning whenshe was pouring out very weak coffee for the small daughters of theReverend Josiah Amberley. There were three Misses Amberley, and theywore about as commonplace young ladies as could be found in the lengthand breadth of England. Their manners were atrocious; their learningvery nearly nil, and their power of self-control nowhere. Why BrendaCarlton, of all people under the sun, had been deputed governess tothese three romps, must remain a puzzle to any thoughtful reader. Butthe Reverend Josiah was always pleased to see a pretty face; was alwaystaken with a light and agreeable manner; and, knowing nothing whateverabout the bringing up of children, was glad to find a girl who wouldundertake the duty for the small sum of thirty pounds per annum. Thismoney Brenda Carlton received quarterly. She also had a month's holidaysome time in the year--not in the summer, for that would be speciallyinconvenient to the Reverend Josiah, who wished his young people toenjoy the benefit of the sea breezes and could not possibly take them toany seaside resort himself.
He was a little sandy-haired man of over fifty years of age; devoted,after a fashion, to his work, and absolutely easy-going as regarded hisestablishment.
Mrs Amberley had died when Nina, the youngest of the three sisters, wasfive years old. Nina was now ten; Josephine, the next girl, was betweeneleven and twelve; and Brenda's eldest pupil, Fanchon--as for someextraordinary reason she was called--would soon be fourteen. The threesisters resembled their father. They were short in stature, thickset,with very sandy hair and small blue eyes. They had no specialcapabilities, nor any gifts which took them out of the ordinary line.But they were all fond of Brenda, who could do with them exactly whatshe willed. She made them her confidantes, but taught them little ornothing.
On the day when she received her letter from Penelope, she continued topour out the coffee until the whole family were supplied. Then she satdown, and deliberately read it. As she did so, three pairs of eyes werefixed on her face.
Nina, whose privilege it was always to sit near her governess, lookedmysterious and full of mischief. The other girls showed by their facesthat they were devoured by curiosity. But the Reverend Josiah requiredto be humoured. To talk nonsense or of such frivolities as dress in hispresence was not to be thought of. Brenda had taught her pupils torespect his scruples in that matter. In reality, poor man, they did notexist; but she thought it well to keep her pupils in a certain awe ofhim--so she was fond of saying:
"As a clergyman, my dears, your father must condemn the dress that makesa woman look pretty; and if you talk about it in his presence, I shallnever be able to get your nice frocks for our seaside jaunt, for he willnot give me the money."
This was a terrible thought to the three Misses Amberley, and, inconsequence, they seemed as innocent with regard to the muslins andchiffons and voile as though these materials did not exist.
The Reverend Josiah believed that dresses were divided into twocategories: cotton dresses for the morning, and silk dresses for theafternoon. He had not the faintest idea that any other textures couldbe procured. It grieved him sometimes to think that his littledaughters did not wear silk on those rare occasions when hisparishioners came to visit him, but as he couldn't afford it, he did notgive the matter another thought. Brenda read her letter, folded it up,and put it into her pocket. The Reverend Mr Amberley, having eaten anexcellent meal, rose to leave the room. As he was doing so, Brendaraised her voice:
"I am very sorry to interrupt you, Mr Amberley, but can I see youpresently in your study?"
The rector signified his assent to this proposition. He was always gladto have an interview with Miss Carlton, for he considered himself
inrare luck to have such a nice stylish girl with his little orphans--ashe was fond of calling them.
"I shall be in my study at eleven o'clock," he said, "and quite at yourservice, Miss Carlton."
Brenda smiled, showing her brilliant teeth and starry blue eyes, and therector went away thinking what a dazzling creature she was, and howlucky it was for Fanchon and Josephine and Nina to have such a nicegoverness to instruct them.
"How my sainted wife--could she speak--would bless that girl!" was histhought. "How happy she makes my dear little ones, and how nice shealways manages to look herself!"
"Now, please--please, Brenda!" said Nina, catching her governess by thesleeve the