"Not at all inclined to be subdued," said Lady Birkett, with a laugh.
"Not spoilt, I hope?" asked Miss Wilson. "If they are, please say so. I can deal with them all right."
"I don't think they are spoilt," said Mrs. Clinton. "They are both affectionate, and easily managed by any one they love. They are apt to be mischievous, perhaps, although they are growing out of that now. They are rather overfond of making fun of people, but I think no one would call them ill-natured."
"Well, that is a very satisfactory report on the whole," said Miss Wilson. "I expect I shall get fond of them. I generally do get fond of my pupils, and they of me. May I ask what other members of your family there are, Mrs. Clinton—brothers or sisters, older or younger?"
"Joan and Nancy are the only ones regularly at home," replied Mrs. Clinton.
"Oh! No brothers at school coming home for the holidays?"
"No," said Mrs. Clinton.
"It is apt to make things difficult sometimes. Girls get out of hand. Are there older brothers, may I ask?"
"Yes, but you would see little of them, Miss Wilson. You need not take them into account."
By the look of Miss Wilson's face, it might have been gathered that she would have preferred to take them into account, at any rate to the extent of hearing a little more about them. But her momentary dejection disappeared. She had to keep her control of the situation. "And now as to hours," she said. "My plan would be to work the whole of the morning, with perhaps a quarter of an hour off for a glass of milk and a rock cake or something of that sort—say from nine o'clock to lunch time; exercise and games in the afternoon, till four. Then three hours' work, with tea in between, and I should expect the girls to do an hour or so's preparation later in the evening. They do not dine with you, of course."