whatever
happened, and I can assure you the person is quite well, and when the
fright was got over the whole thing was forgotten."

"Are you sure?"

"Positive."

"Oh, I have lived through such a morning of agony!"

"You must forget your agony now."

"But how am I to endure that child?"

"Will you lie down again on your bed and let me talk to you for a minute
or two?"

As Rosamund spoke she took the cold hand of the governess, led her to
the bed, made her lie down, and covered her up. Then she drew a chair
forward, and, still retaining her hand, she began to speak.

"I know quite well all that you would say about Irene; but please don't
say it. I have come here contrary to rules, and at some trouble to
myself, but also with my mother's approval, to be Irene's friend and
guest for a time. You are all very much afraid of her. Yes, you are,
from Lady Jane to the lowest servant in the place, and it is because you
are afraid of her that she is so exceedingly naughty. Now, it so happens
that I am not a scrap afraid of her, therefore I have some influence
over her, and I know positively that she will not play any of her horrid
tricks upon you again. For the moment she does so I shall leave her, and
she doesn't wish me to do that. Therefore you needn't be at all afraid.
What has happened gave you a nasty turn; but there, that's the end of
it! You will get up, won't you, and come down to tea? I think perhaps
Irene will be a little nicer to you. And to-morrow, or the next day, or
whenever we are to begin, I want to know if you will teach me as well as
Irene. I also want us to know other girls, and to have a good time all
round. For Irene is only a young savage at present; but she has a warm
heart, and I do believe that I can touch it."

"My dear," said Miss Frost when Rosamund had done speaking, "may I ask
how old you are?"

"I am fifteen."

"Then you are three years older than the terrible Irene."

"Three years older, and I hope three years wiser."

"A thousand years wiser, my dear--quite a thousand years wiser. You
don't know what I have suffered; and I am not the only one. Her one
object in life when each new governess comes is to get rid of that
governess. But I have a little brother and sister both dependent on me
altogether for their daily bread, and Lady Jane gives me one hundred and
fifty pounds a year, a very large sum for a governess who is not
certificated. I simply daren't give it up. I try to, for I