voice
like a frog, and she takes snuff, and carries a black stick with a
silver top."

Susan stared at her brother without speaking, and clutched her doll more
tightly to her chest; but though this terrible picture really alarmed
her, she had a proud spirit, and was not going to let him know it.

"You don't suppose I believe that," she said scornfully; "that's only
like a fairy old woman."

"You just wait," said Freddie solemnly, "till you get down there and see
her."

Just then Maria came into the room with her bonnet on. Miss Susan was
to go out with her, she said, and do some shopping for Nurse, and she
must come and be dressed at once. Susan collected her property and
marched out of the room, holding her head very high to show Freddie that
she did not care for what he had said; but, as soon as she was alone
with Maria, she thought of it with a very heavy mind.

Late in the afternoon of that same day she was sitting in the
drawing-room window seat threading beads, when Mother's great friend
came to pay a visit. Susan knew her very well. She was a lady who
lived near, and often went out with Mother when she had to choose a new
bonnet or do shopping. Her name was Mrs Millet; but Mother always
called her "dear" or "Emily." Susan did not like her much; so she
remained quietly in her corner, and hoped she would not be called out to
say "How do you do?" It was a snug corner almost hidden by the window
curtain, and Mother had perhaps forgotten she was in the room at all.
At any rate no notice was taken of her, and she went on happily with her
work, but presently something in the conversation caught her attention.

"So you really go on Tuesday, dear?" said Mrs Millet with a sigh.

"Yes," said Mrs Ingram; "it's a great undertaking."

"It is, _indeed_," agreed Mrs Millet in a deeply sympathetic tone.
Then, catching a glimpse of herself in a glass opposite, she patted her
bonnet-strings, looked more cheerful, and added, "And how about Susan?"

"She goes to Ramsgate on Monday to my Aunt Enticknapp."

"Ah," said Mrs Millet. "Quite satisfactory, I suppose?"

"Perfectly. I heard this morning. I feared she might not have room
because of those Bahia girls, you know."

"Exactly," replied Mrs Millet. "Quite _desirable_, I suppose?"

"Quite. Susan, you can go upstairs now. It's nearly tea-time. Clear
those things away, and shut the door softly."

Deeply disappointed, for she felt she had been on the very e