t spirit."

"Well, perhaps something else will happen. Maud Singleton is always
asking me to go to church. I think I will, if you will come with me. We
can go to the evening service. I have never been. Maud says I wouldn't
feel so like a changeling if I could pray like other people, and sing
hymns like other people. But then I'm sure I can't. May we sit near the
door, and if I feel it impossible to remain quiet any longer, do you
mind if I rush out?"

"We will certainly go to church, and we can sit near the door, and you
shall rush out if you feel inclined, and I will come with you," said
Rosamund. "But this is rather starting away from our question. What do
you want to do during the holidays? You wouldn't, for instance, think of
spending them with the Singletons at the seaside?"

"I will tell you another time," said Irene. "I can't make up my mind on
that point quite so soon. Now, let us come in, and you shall read me
some more from those wonderful _Arabian Nights_ fairy-tales. They are so
beautiful; I feel they were written for me. Afterwards we will have Hans
Andersen."

"For my part, I like Hans Andersen best," said Rosamund.

The two girls went towards the house. Rosamund read, as was her wont,
for half-an-hour to Irene, during which time that young person grew very
sleepy, and soon afterwards went away to bed. Rosamund was about to
follow her when Lady Jane came into the room.

"My dear Rose," she said, "I have had a letter from your mother. She
says that you are to join them in Switzerland during the first week of
the holidays. I suppose you wouldn't think it possible that Irene and I
should accompany you?"

"I should like it very much," said Rosamund. "But I don't know that
mother would think it quite fair. Mother is not accustomed to a girl
like Irene, and although she is wonderfully good to what she used to be,
you can scarcely call her a good girl yet--not an ordinary good girl, I
mean."

"I suppose not, but she is quite sweet to me. Only I feel certain that
when your influence is withdrawn we shall have the old dreadful things
occurring again."

"I don't think so, indeed. But do tell me what mother has said."

"She says that you are to go back to the Merrimans' for the next term;
but after that you can come and live with us if we want you. She
suggested that we should take a house for the winter in town, so that
you and Irene should have the advantage of the best masters possible to
be obtained,