up and the holidays would begin. The young Singletons were going to the
seaside, and every one was about to have a merry-making of one sort or
another.

In the past Irene and her mother had lived on in a dull sort of fashion
at The Follies. Lady Jane had never the heart to leave home, therefore
Irene knew nothing of the delights of traveling. But as the time
approached for the holidays Rosamund spoke once or twice of the fun
which ought to be before them.

"Where would you like to go?" she said to her young friend. "There are
ever so many places where you can have amusement--you and Lady Jane."

"You want to tame me down," said Irene. "I don't think I can be
altogether tamed. There is something in me here"--and she put her hand
on her breast--"a wild sort of thing that will assert itself now and
then. I can't help myself. I can't, for instance, sit still in a
drawing-room, or be a very good little girl in church, finding out the
hymns and the lessons for the day, and the right psalms. I could not
teach in the Sunday-school--no, I couldn't, for all the world. I could
do none of those things, because I have a wild living creature that
seems to be inside me. I don't know what it means; I don't understand it
myself. It is rampant when you are not here; but when you are present
it stays quiet mostly, just because I love you. That is the whole
reason."

"Aren't you very much happier since I came to you?" said Rosamund.

The two girls were pacing up and down in front of the lake, about a week
before the holidays were to begin.

Meanwhile, at Sunnyside, school had recommenced. It is true that Jane,
far too delicate to resume her lessons, was away at the seaside; but
Lucy, Laura, Annie Millar, Phyllis Flower, and Agnes Sparkes had all
returned to their studies. Miss Archer and Mademoiselle Omont were also
very much to the fore. The kind Bretts had found rooms for the two
governesses at Dartford; but they could not manage to take them in
themselves. The girls had therefore gone, after a certain manner,
through their lessons; but now the holidays were approaching.

"What a queer term it has been!" said Rosamund, talking to Irene as they
walked by the water-side. "I, who belonged to the Merrimans' party,
spending all my time with you; you working hard at your daily lessons
and enjoying them; Miss Frost and Miss Carter the best of friends, and
meeting Sunday after Sunday; and you having quite a fancy--yes, and more
than a