friend. As
long as I am your friend you are safe and happy here, so that is all
right."

Little Agnes, never having heard anything about Irene except that she
was her sister Emily's pupil, believed these words, and continued to
look with a fascinated gaze at the white-throated swans, at the
beautiful water-lilies, and at the calm reflection of the boat and their
two selves in the water. She saw nothing whatever of the rapid stream in
the centre of the lake, where poor Miss Carter had almost met her death,
nor did she see any fierce or turbulent side to Irene's erratic nature.

By-and-by the bell sounded, and Irene exclaimed, "I declare it is time
for us to go in. You are much too young to sit up to dinner. I will see
that you are put to bed, and have something very nice for you to eat,
and I will sit with you until you fall asleep."

"But you will want your own dinner," said little Agnes.

"My own dinner doesn't matter in the very least. I will have a snatch of
something when I go downstairs. Now come along."

She began to ply her oars again, and in a minute or two they had landed,
the boat had been moored, and the two children went up to the house.

Hughie was standing on the steps, blowing a loud whistle through his
fingers.

"Hullo, Aggie!" he cried. "Why, you are looking as fresh as possible;
and Miss Irene--the wonderful Miss Irene"--here he gave a mocking bow
to Irene--"has taken you under her wing. I can tell you sister Emily is
pretty jealous."

Irene looked at him with small favor.

"Will you please let us pass?" she said.

The boy made another sweeping bow, and Irene and little Agnes passed
into the house. They went upstairs. Irene took her little friend to the
pink room next to her own. Here all her things had been unpacked already
by Miss Frost herself, who had now, however, vanished. Agnes, tired,
happy, pleased with her new friend, fearing nothing, trusting all
things, was soon got into bed, and Irene sat by her until she dropped
asleep. Then she laid a light kiss on her forehead, closed the door
softly, and went downstairs.

Dinner was a thing of the past. Hughie and Miss Frost were pacing about
in one of the corridors. Irene ran into the drawing-room. Lady Jane was
lying on one of the sofas, half-asleep. She started up when she saw her
daughter, and said in a quiet tone, "You will want some dinner, won't
you?"

"Yes; I have desired James to give me something. He is getting it
ready."

"