IN a few days Christina was the greatest of friends with her young governess.
Puggy held aloof at first, not quite sure if he liked her. She had such a fund of games and good stories at her disposal that it seemed a pity to be out of it. Yet she never asked him to join, and seemed to ignore him. Dawn, a little ashamed of the part he had played, kept away; Christina was the one who profited most by Miss Loder's bright energy.
She enjoyed her lessons every morning. She had only an hour in the afternoon, and the rest of the time was spent in walks and play.
Puggy shut himself up in the turret room and waved the green flag, for Christina never seemed to want to play with him now. She was quite happy with Miss Loder. When Dawn came over they took counsel together, and finally they both marched to Christina's nursery, or schoolroom as it was now called.
Dawn was spokesman, and he addressed Miss Loder, who was sitting by the window with her needlework. Christina was on a stool at her feet, listening with rapt attention to a fairy tale; for lessons were over, and it was too wet for a walk.
"How do you do, Miss Loder? I'm Dawn." A queer little bow accompanied this introduction.
"Puggy and I have come to say we'd like to be friends."
Miss Loder looked up with a twinkle in her eyes.
"I am sorry, but I gave my word of honour that I would have nothing to say to either John Durward or Avril O'Flagherty. I never break a promise."
"But it's all rot!" burst out Puggy. "That was only a kind of game, and we didn't know you were a good sort."