hastily on the table, and disappeared from
view. Maud, in some astonishment, her face rather pale, but her eyes
bright and resolute as usual, came forward to greet her visitors.

"How do you do?" she said to Rosamund. Then she looked at Irene, whom
she had never spoken to before.

"This is my great friend Irene Ashleigh," said Rosamund; "and this is
her governess, Miss Frost. We have come to pay you a visit. I see you
are busy. That is quite delightful. May we help you?"

"Of course you may, if you will."

Maud held out a gracious hand to Irene, whose little mouth, satirical
enough at first, broke now into a gentle smile, while her eyes became
tranquil and even happy. She had enjoyed a moment of exquisite bliss
when she saw Miss Carter, after that first terrified glance, hurry into
the house.

"I can stand the Leaves," she said to herself, "but I hope Carter will
keep out of the way."

They all three got out of the cart. A groom came to take the pony to the
stables, and the girls and Miss Frost were invited to help the
Singletons to entertain their guests.

"We are ever so short of hands," said Maud, "and your coming is quite a
blessing. You know, of course, that no one from Sunnyside can come near
the place. Mrs. Brett won't allow the girls even to come over from
Dartford, which father says is a pity; but still, one must err on the
safe side. Isn't it jolly, Jane being quite out of danger? She is to go
away at the end of the week, and next week the house will be
disinfected, and then everything will be as it was before."

As she spoke she glanced at Irene, who dropped a little behind, keeping
hold of Miss Frost's hand.

"Frosty," she said, "can you bear a little pain?"

"I suppose so, dear," said poor Miss Frost in a timid voice.

"I mean this: I must have some outlet for my feelings, and if a Leaf
comes too near me I will just squeeze your hand. I won't really hurt you
if I can help it, but if I can squeeze your hand I'll be civil to the
Leaf; if not, I'll be awfully rude. Do you understand, and will you
endure it?"

"I will try to," said Miss Frost; "but I have got very thin hands,
Irene."

"Indeed you have, exceedingly bony and exceedingly ugly; but that can't
be helped. Just let me hold this hand for the present."

"Do you mind," said Miss Frost after a moment's pause--"do you mind if I
take off the rings I have on this hand and put them on the hand you are
not going to squeeze? If you were to squ