s in the shade of one of the thickest plantations in
Sunnyside.

"Oh dear! oh dear!" said Laura, speaking excitedly, "there has been a
fuss made. I always did admire you, Rosamund; but I must own I was
disappointed at your creeping away in the manner you did, without
telling anybody. And as to dear Professor Merriman, his face was quite
full of pain. I could scarcely bear to look at him."

"I am sorry I went," said Rosamund. "At least, in one sense I am sorry,
but it was a mistake to prevent me. The fact is," she continued, "I am
not made like ordinary girls; I know I am not, and I could not stand the
narrow point of view which it seemed to me the Professor had assumed."

"But at school, remember, if there were no discipline there would be no
chance of education," was Laura's next remark.

"I am sure Laura is right," said Annie Millar.

"Well, I hold with Rosamund to a certain extent," exclaimed Jane Denton.

Rosamund turned round to her own friend and smiled.

"Now, I will tell you something," she said. "I hold a distinct brief
against myself. I did wrong, and yet in some ways I suppose I did right
to go. Girls, have you ever heard any particulars with regard to Lady
Jane Ashleigh?"

Laura's face turned very red.

"Of course, every one in the place respects her," she said.

"Yes, I know, and I am not a bit surprised. I told her quite frankly
that I had come without leave, and she said she was sorry for that; and
although she did wish to see me so much, she would insist on not
allowing me to stay to supper, and brought me home, as you see,
comparatively early. So you will understand that she at least is not to
blame. Nevertheless, have you heard anything more of that household?"

"Only that there is a girl--a very queer girl--there," said Annie Millar
in an almost spiteful voice.

"Some people say she is mad," said Laura Everett.

"Well, now, I am going to tell you something," said Rosamund. "I have
seen the girl. Her name is Irene. She has quite one of the most
beautiful little faces I have ever looked at. And she is the wildest,
queerest creature; but not a scrap mad in the ordinary sense of the
word. She and I spent a good deal of the afternoon together, and I mean
to see more of her, and to make her my friend."

"But you will have so many friends!" interrupted Jane.

"Yes, every one wants to be your friend, Rosamund," said Laura in a
gentle tone.

"And I am quite glad to be everybody's friend, if