ation out of nothing! And supposing you suddenly found that
there was nothing to eat, and you had to make a dinner out of scraps--
what would be most useful to you then, Greek history or a good,
resourceful brain?"

Mary and Agnes stared aghast, but the sound of a snigger came from the
fireplace where Susan stood meekly in the background, and a moment later
a ringing laugh drew all eyes to the doorway where stood a tall, bright-
haired girl, whose white teeth gleamed pleasantly through her parted
lips.

"Bravo!" she cried gaily. "Bravo, my new pupil! Very adroitly argued.
But suppose now that one of your dull diners happened to be an
enthusiast about Greece, and that its glories were the only subject on
which he was prepared to talk! Suppose he spoke of the `Caryatids,' for
example, and you had no idea what the word meant--how would you keep up
your share of the conversation?"

"Quite easily. I'd say--`Really! How very interesting! _Pray_ do go
on!' Then he'd be charmed. People always are charmed to go on
talking," declared Dreda smiling back with the utmost frankness into the
face of this bright, friendly stranger.

So this was the English governess of whose cleverness and
accomplishments she had heard so much! She looked quite young--
ridiculously young; not many years older than Rowena herself. Dreda had
expected to see an elderly, spectacled dame, thin and spare, with scant
locks dragged tightly back from her face. In the dark depression of her
spirits she had thought it possible that she might even wear knitted
mittens, and have cotton wool in her ears. Never for a moment had it
occurred to her that an accomplished finishing governess could be young
and pretty!

To judge from Miss Drake's expression she was experiencing very much the
same pleasure in the sight of her new pupil, for her eyes brightened
visibly as she looked Dreda up and down, down and up, with a keen,
intent scrutiny. She laughed as she heard the girl's answer, and
replied easily:

"That's quite true, Etheldreda. I am myself! That's one of the reasons
which induced me to work--for unless one is contented to play the part
of hearer through life, it really is worth the trouble to store up a
little general knowledge, so that one may talk as interestingly as
possible. Lessons may seem dull and unnecessary at the time, but they
_are_ useful afterwards! Now, girls, take your places! Etheldreda
shall sit here on my left, and I wi