away," said Irene. "I have thought
it all out. I'll have a wild, wild time. I have been good long enough.
I'll go back to my frogs and toads and leeches, and spiders and wasps
and bees. I'll terrify the servants again, and scare mother, and send
Frosty off her head. That's what I'll do; and I'll wear my little red
dress, and I'll get Frosty into the middle of the lake, and I'll make
her promise to go away, and if she refuses to go--I know she won't, for
even those children won't keep her when such a thing as that is thought
of"----

"Oh, I have such a splendid thought!" said Rosamund suddenly. "Suppose
you make Frosty happy instead of miserable? You can if you like. Suppose
you allow her to ask the two children, Agnes and Hughie, to spend the
holidays at The Follies?"

"The two children--Frosty's two children?"

"Yes, her little brother and sister. She was telling me the other day
she didn't know what to do with them. It would be such a splendid
opportunity, and there is really no necessity whatever for you to leave
The Follies. You could be there, and they would look up to you. They
don't know that you are naughty--they need never know. I would be with
you for the first two or three days, for their different schools break
up before most schools, so they could come next week, and I could help
you with them. What do you think? You wouldn't be without companions,
and it would be a tremendous trust to repose in you, Irene. Do you think
you would be worthy of it?"

"These were those words the clergyman said--Mr. Singleton, I mean--'I
will arise and go to my Father, and will say unto Him: Father, I have
sinned.' They made such a lump come in my throat; and when you talk to
me a great lump comes in my throat too, and I feel that I have done
nothing but sin all my life. Oh, I can't be sure of myself; that's about
the end of the matter, Rosamund."

"I know--I know!" said Rosamund. "I know it is very hard; but then,
anything worth living for is hard; and you have done so much that is
wrong, it would be a splendid thing to turn over a new leaf now. Do you
know what I have further in my mind? You know that I am to go back to
the Merrimans' next term, but only till Christmas, and I want your
mother to let you come with me. The Merrimans want another governess, so
Frosty could come; and perhaps her little sister Agnes could be another
pupil. Everything can be arranged if only you will promise to be good."

"But you weren't g