ison said it was
better for her not to speak about the Harpers to Lady Myrtle, so there's
no use in saying anything about them. And it's more comfortable not to
have something in your head you're not to tell. I suppose I must try to
put it all out of my head, but it _would_ have been nice to help to make
that old aunt of theirs like them. I'll put the letter in an envelope
ready addressed to mamma--that'll keep any one from touching it--and
I'll send it to her in my next letter.'

But it called for some self-control not to tell it all to her sister,
even at the risk of her displeasure. And Frances was conscious of a very
slight feeling of relief when Jacinth, evidently in high spirits, though
quiet as she always was, set off in state the next day for her visit to
Robin Redbreast.

She had made up her mind to enjoy herself and to be pleased with
everything, and it was not difficult to carry out this programme.
Everything Lady Myrtle could think of to make her young guest feel at
home had been done, and Jacinth was both quick to see this and most
ready to appreciate it.

She drew a deep breath of satisfaction when she found herself seated in
Lady Myrtle's comfortable brougham, which, though a trifle
old-fashioned, was, like everything belonging to the Robin Redbreast
establishment, thoroughly good of its kind.

'It is like being at Stannesley again,' thought Jacinth, 'only poor
granny's carriage and horses, and old Simpson the coachman, weren't half
so nice as all this is.'

And, to confess the truth, I think a passing regret went through her
that the road to her destination lay straight out from the town on the
Market Square Place side, so that there was no chance of her meeting any
of her school-fellows and giving them a smiling nod of recognition.

The door was opened by the neat parlour-maid, but behind her
appeared--to do special honour to the young lady, no doubt--a
functionary whom Jacinth had not seen before--no less a personage than
Mr Thornley, Lady Myrtle's old, not to say aged butler. He came forward
gently rubbing his hands, and bending with a decorous mixture of
paternal solicitude and deference which Jacinth by no means objected to,
though it made her inclined to smile a little.

'Miss Mildmay, I presume?'

'Miss Mildmay' was quite equal to the occasion. She bent her head
graciously.

'Her ladyship is awaiting you in her boudoir, if you will have the
goodness to follow me,' the old man proceeded