the door. Was the person in a hurry? The person proved to be the
discreet and accomplished Maria. She made her excuses to Carmina with
sweetness, and turned to Miss Minerva with sorrow.

"I regret to say that you are wanted in the schoolroom. Mr. Le Frank can
do nothing with Zoe. Oh, dear!" She sighed over her sister's wickedness,
and waited for instructions.

To be called away, under any circumstances, was a relief to Miss
Minerva. Carmina's affectionate welcome had irritated her in the most
incomprehensible manner. She was angry with herself for being irritated;
she felt inclined to abuse the girl for believing her. "You fool, why
don't you see through me? Why don't you write to that other fool who
is in love with you, and tell him how I hate you both?" But for her
self-command, she might have burst out with such mad words as those.
Maria's appearance was inexpressibly welcome. "Say I will follow you
directly," she answered.

Maria, in the language of the stage, made a capital exit. With a few
hurried words of apology, Miss Minerva prepared to follow. Carmina
stopped her at the door.

"Don't be hard on Zo!" she said.

"I must do my duty," Miss Minerva answered sternly.

"We were sometimes naughty ourselves when we were children," Carmina
pleaded. "And only the other day she had bread and water for tea. I am
so fond of Zo! And besides--" she looked doubtfully at Miss Minerva--"I
don't think Mr. Le Frank is the sort of man to get on with children."

After what had just passed between Mrs. Gallilee and herself, this
expression of opinion excited the governess's curiosity. "What makes you
say that?" she asked.

"Well, my dear, for one thing Mr. Le Frank is so ugly. Don't you agree
with me?"

"I think you had better keep your opinion to yourself. If he heard of
it--"

"Is he vain? My poor father used to say that all bad musicians were
vain."

"You don't call Mr. Le Frank a bad musician?"

"Oh, but I do! I heard him at his concert. Mere execution of the most
mechanical kind. A musical box is as good as that man's playing. This is
how he does it!"

Her girlish good spirits had revived in her friend's company. She turned
gaily to the piano, and amused herself by imitating Mr. Le Frank.

Another knock at the door--a single peremptory knock this time--stopped
the performance.

Miss Minerva had left the door ajar, when Carmina had prevented her
from quitting the room. She looked through the open space, and
d