Moreover, two correctives came of themselves to Caroline. The first was Janet’s inordinate correspondence with Nita Ray, and the discovery that the girl held herself engaged to stay with the sisters in November.
“Without asking me!” she exclaimed, aghast.
“I thought you heard us talking,” said Janet, so carelessly, that her mother put on her dignity.
“I certainly had no conception of an invitation being given and accepted without reference to me.”
“Come, now, Mother Carey,” said this modern daughter; “don’t be cross! We really didn’t know you weren’t attending.”
“If I had I should have said it was impossible, as I say now. You can never have thought over the matter!”
“Haven’t I? When I am doing no good here, only wasting time?”
“That is my fault. We will set to work at once steadily.”
“But my classes and my lectures!”
“You are not so far on but that our reading together will teach you quite as much as lectures.”