When Phyllis awoke the next morning she had the pleasureable sensation
down deep in her heart that something very agreeable was about to
happen. For a time she lay still, hugging the pleasant knowledge to
herself. Then she sat up in bed with a laugh. Nurse had come into the
room with Phyllis's bath, and was pouring the hot water out for her and
preparing to help her to dress.
"Well, Miss," she said, "what is the matter?"
"Oh Nursey! those nice children from the Rectory are coming over to-day,
and I mean to give them such a jolly time. The whole four are coming,
and we mean to have hide-and-seek in the grounds and in the house.
We'll be a bit wild and we'll be a bit noisy, but you don't mind, do
you, Nursey?"
"No, darling," replied Nurse, "I don't mind; I am glad you have
something to cheer you now that the Squire has gone."
"Oh, I forgot that!" said Phyllis. "I shall miss my darling father, but
I am all the more glad that the Rectory children are coming."
Phyllis rose in high spirits, and presently she and Miss Fleet met in
the schoolroom.
In the Squire's absence they were to have their meals in the schoolroom,
and the table was laid now and placed in the cheerful bay-window, and
the schoolroom maid was bringing in coffee, toast, and other good things
for breakfast.
"I am hungry," said Phyllis.--"Good-morning, Miss Fleet."
"Good-morning, my dear," said Miss Fleet. "Take your seat quietly,
please--not quite so noisily. Shall I give you a cup of coffee?"
"Yes, please," said Phyllis.
As a rule she rather resented Miss Fleet's remarks, but she was in such
good spirits to-day that she determined, as she expressed it, to be
extra well-behaved.
"I have been thinking, Phyllis," said the governess as she slowly ate
her own breakfast, "that this is an excellent opportunity for us to
begin a more exhaustive routine of work."
"Exhaustive routine? What is that?" asked Phyllis.
"I will explain to you. We have been going about for so many years that
you have never settled properly to your studies. Your father has given
me _carte blanche_ to do exactly as I please with regard to your
education. I mean to have the carriage this afternoon and to drive into
Dartfield, the nearest large town, in order to see about new books for
you, and also to get you music-masters, drawing-masters, and a
dancing-master; you will probably have to join a dancing-class at
Dartfield once or twice a week, and we may have to go there for your
music. I, myself, will undertake your English education, and for the
present will instruct you in French and German. We cannot quite arrange
matters so as to fill up your time before Monday--this is Thursday--but
on Monday I trust that we shall have a complete system so that every
hour may be occupied."
"It sounds very dull," said Phyllis when her governess paused for want
of breath. "Is there to be no time for play?"
"Play!" said Miss Fleet, with scorn. "You have played all your life.
You want to work now."
"But `all work and no play makes Jack a dull boy,'" said Phyllis in a
flippant tone.
"Your uttering that remark, dear," said the governess, "shows how sadly
you have been neglected. Of course you shall play after a fashion. You
must take regular exercise, and have half-an-hour a day at gymnastics,
and I may be able to arrange to take you to Dartfield for tennis and
hockey according to the season."
"But why go to Dartfield for my games?" said Phyllis. "There are the
Rectory children."
Miss Fleet opened her eyes. She did not speak at all for a moment; then
she said gently--
"As we have finished breakfast, will you please say grace, Phyllis, and
then meet me here in half-an-hour for lessons?" Phyllis muttered her
grace in a decidedly cross voice. Miss Fleet immediately afterwards
left the room. Phyllis went and stood by the fire. Suddenly she gave a
little jump and her eyes danced.
"Why, of course I can't go with her--horrid old thing!--to Dartfield
to-day," she exclaimed joyfully. "They are coming, the darlings, and I
cannot be out of the way on any account whatsoever."
The remembrance that the Rectory children were coming cheered her
immensely, and she danced gaily about the room putting things in order
for Miss Fleet.
The moment the governess appeared Phyllis ran up to her.