s accepted it, and really felt a glow
of satisfaction in having called out even so much as an acceptance of
her favor from her arbitrary young charge.

"Small favors thankfully received," she thought with a smile at her own
humility.

Nan stood leaning against the wall with her hands behind her, watching
the manoeuvres of the leathern rag as it flashed up and down the nickel
spokes and around and about the hubs, guided by the dexterous hand of
the little governess.

"Yes, I think we can pass many a jolly hour on this machine," resumed
Miss Blake, "after the ground is clear of snow, and after we are clear
of our lessons. We'll begin our studies on Monday, Nan. That will be
commencing with the new week, and we must be very conscientious about
our work before we indulge in any play."

"There!" thought Nan, with a rush of antagonism, "I might have known
she'd make some kind of a fuss before she'd let me use it. I guess
she's sorry she promised in the first place, and wants to kind of back
out of it. Oh, well, I might have known. Now she'll pile on lessons
and things till there's no time for anything else. That's her way of
getting out of it."

But she made no comment. She stood kicking her heel against the
surbase, silently watching the sparkling machine. Presently she turned
and stalked upstairs without a word.

Delia gave Miss Blake an apologetic glance, but the governess
composedly rose, and, stowing her property safely away against the
closet wall, closed the door upon it and with a kind word to the woman
beside her went upstairs as though nothing had happened.

She knew what was in Nan's mind. She could read it as distinctly as if
the sudden wrinkles on her forehead and the quick set of her obstinate
jaw had been printed text.

"Poor child!" thought the governess, "how she hates study and--me. How
she rebels against restraint. So she thinks I am trying to take back
my word. No wonder that makes her furious."

She went into her room and closed the door, but after a moment she came
back and opened it again.

"Nan might feel shut out," she said to herself, and so she left it
standing invitingly ajar that in case the girl cared to come in she
would not have to knock. She smiled to herself as she did it. She
knew well enough Nan would not care to come in. "Still there might be
a chance!"--she left the door open on the chance.

The more Nan thought of Delia's baseness the more she inwardly raged