dear Aunt, I have behaved
very badly, and I am very much ashamed of it. May I trust to your kind
indulgence to forgive me? I will try to be worthier of your kindness
for the future; and I sincerely beg your pardon." She signed her name in
breathless haste. "Please take it at once!" she said eagerly.

Miss Minerva smiled. "If I take it," she said, "I shall do harm instead
of good--I shall be accused of interfering. Give it to one of the
servants. Not yet! When Mrs. Gallilee is angry, she doesn't get over
it so soon as you seem to think. Leave her to dabble in science first,"
said the governess in tones of immeasurable contempt. "When she has
half stifled herself with some filthy smell, or dissected some wretched
insect or flower, she may be in a better humour. Wait."

Carmina thought of the happy days at home in Italy, when her father
used to laugh at her little outbreaks of temper, and good Teresa only
shrugged her shoulders. What a change--oh, me, what a change for the
worse! She drew from her bosom a locket, hung round her neck by a thin
gold chain--and opened it, and kissed the glass over the miniature
portraits inside. "Would you like to see them?" she said to Miss
Minerva. "My mother's likeness was painted for me by my father; and then
he had his photograph taken to match it. I open my portraits and look at
them, while I say my prayers. It's almost like having them alive again,
sometimes. Oh, if I only had my father to advise me now--!" Her
heart swelled--but she kept back the tears: she was learning that
self-restraint, poor soul, already! "Perhaps," she went on, "I ought
not to want advice. After that fainting-fit in the Gardens, if I can
persuade Ovid to leave us, I ought to do it--and I will do it!"

Miss Minerva crossed the room, and looked out of window. Carmina had
roused the dormant jealousy; Carmina had fatally weakened the good
influences which she had herself produced. The sudden silence of her new
friend perplexed her. She too went to the window. "Do you think it would
be taking a liberty?" she asked.

"No."

A short answer--and still looking out of window! Carmina tried
again. "Besides, there are my aunt's wishes to consider. After my bad
behaviour--"

Miss Minerva turned round from the window sharply. "Of course! There
can't be a doubt of it." Her tone softened a little. "You are young,
Carmina--I suppose I may call you by your name--you are young and
simple. Do those innocent eyes of yours ev