“And an early riser,” added Mrs. Hilary.
“Yes, Cousin Mary. What did happen, Mr. Carter?”
“My mother came in during the French hour. I don’t know whether you have observed, Miss Phyllis, how easy it is to slip into the habit of entering rooms when you had better remain outside. Now, even my friend Arch—However, that’s neither here nor there. My mother, as I say, came in.”
“Church of England, of course, Phyllis?” called Mrs. Hilary.
“Oh, of course, cousin Mary,” cried little Miss Phyllis.
“The sect makes no difference,” I observed. “Well, my sisters, like good girls, began to repeat the irregular verbs. But it was no use. We were discovered. That night, Miss Phyllis, I nearly drowned myself.”
“You must have been—Oh, how awful, Mr. Carter!”
“That is to say, I thought how effective it would be if I drowned myself. Ah, well, it couldn’t last!”
“And the governess?”
“She left next morning.”