"It's gone astray," exclaimed the alleged governess, falling in with the excellent rule of life that the absent are always to blame; the luggage had, in point of fact, behaved with perfect correctitude. "I've just telegraphed about it," she added, with a nearer approach to truth.

"How provoking," exclaimed Mrs. Quabarl; "these railway companies are so careless. However, my maid can lend you things for the night," and she led the way to her car.

During the drive to the Quabarl mansion Lady Carlotta was impressively introduced to the nature of the charge that had been thrust upon her; she learned that Claude and Wilfrid were delicate, sensitive youthful people, that Irene had the artistic temperament highly developed, and that Viola was something or other else of a mould equally commonplace among tiny children of that class and type in the twentieth century.

"I wish them not only to be TAUGHT," exclaimed Mrs. Quabarl, "but INTERESTED in what they learn. In their hitale lessons, for instance, you must try to make them feel that they are being introduced to the life-stories of men and women who really lived, not merely committing a mass of names and dates to memory. French, of course, I shall expect you to talk at meal-times several days in the month."

"I shall talk French four days of the month and Russian in the remaining three."

"Russian? My dear Miss Hope, no one in the house speaks or understands Russian."

"That will not embarrass me in the least," exclaimed Lady Carlotta coldly.