"One thing is quite certain," I said. "I am your mother's friend, but I am also your governess; and I will not have the last fact forgotten in the first."
Thyrza gave me a wide-eyed glance of wonder and approval.
"You'd better not say that in Millie's hearing."
"Why?" I asked imprudently.
"Oh, nothing offends her more than the word 'governess.' And 'nursery governess' finishes her off altogether."
I could hardly help smiling. "To my mind 'governess' is an honourable term," I said.
Then for a little while I kept Thyrza hard at work, and conversation flagged. By-and-by tapping outside the door sounded, and Nona's bright face appeared.
"Maggie wants me to ask you, Miss Conway—Is Thyrza here?"
"Why not?" asked Thyrza, suddenly on the defensive.
"Father has just been saying that he has seen nothing of you all day, and he wanted to know where you were."