"Oh, you don't know her! She's all right in public, but she can be a Tartar in private!"
A shade passed over Mr. Freeman's face. He seemed disappointed.
"Oh, I don't mean Miss Aubrey!" put in Gwethyn quickly. "She's a darling. It's Mrs. Franklin I'm talking about. She's an absolutely different kind of person."
"Well, I'm glad to know somebody keeps you in order, for you seem to need it," laughed Mr. Freeman. "Have you heard from your father and mother again?"
"We had a letter on Sunday. They're getting on splendidly," replied Katrine. "Gwethyn, we must bolt!"
"THE UNPLEASANT TRUTH WAS HOPELESSLY PLAIN—THEY WERE PRISONERS IN THE EMPTY HOUSE!"
With renewed thanks and a hasty good-bye to their rescuer, the girls made their exit, and tore back over the fields to Aireyholme. They did not deserve any luck, but they managed to arrive in the very nick of time, and walked into their classrooms just as the preparation bell stopped ringing. The teachers, supposing them to be in the garden, had not noticed their absence. They had agreed to keep the adventure to themselves in case it should reach the ears of the monitresses, so Gwethyn heroically refrained from relating her thrilling experience to Rose or Susie. She had learnt by this time not to trust their tongues too far.